title: Absorption and elimination of bismuth from oral doses of tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of bismuth subcitrate were studied in plasma and urine under conditions of single and multiple dosing (28-56 days) using atomic absorption technique. Single dose plasma pharmacokinetics showed peak concentrations of 5.5-57.5 micrograms.l-1 (mean = 24.7 micrograms.l-1), reached between 30 and 60 min post dosing with an apparent biphasic elimination pattern. Multiple dose studies showed a continuing rise in plasma concentration and urine excretion rate reaching apparent steady-state levels over 7-29 days (mean = 18 days). Washout studies in 6 individuals reciprocated accumulation. Maximum equilibrated plasma levels of 7.6-58.3 micrograms.l-1 (mean = 38.3 micrograms.l-1) were well below those associated with encephalopathy. The half-life of bismuth elimination was 20.7 days. Present patterns of intermittent dosing with bismuth are unlikely to be associated with bismuth accumulation despite slow accumulation and elimination.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Department, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Froomes
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Keech
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001729:Bismuth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D001729:Bismuth