title: Increased systemic availability of albendazole when taken with a fatty meal.
abstract: We have studied the systemic availability of oral albendazole in 6 patients with echinococcosis either fasting or with breakfast. Albendazole sulphoxide, the pharmacologically active principle, was assayed by HPLC. Mean plasma concentrations and AUCs were 4.5 times higher when albendazole was given with breakfast than when administered in the fasting state. We conclude that therapy of echinococcosis with albendazole requires the drug to be taken with meals and that administration on an empty stomach might be more appropriate when intraluminal effects are desired, e.g. for intestinal parasites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eggers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bircher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001682:Biological Availability; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015766:Albendazole