title: Pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of scopolamine in caesarean section patients.
abstract: A new method (ELISA) was used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of scopolamine following intravenous (0.005 mg/kg), intramuscular (0.01 mg/kg), and oropharyngeal (0.035 mg/kg) administration of the drug to pregnant patients anaesthetized for caesarean section. After intravenous (N = 4) the drug fast disappeared from the circulation with a half-life of about 5 min., and the serum levels generally were measurable up to 3 hours, mean elimination half-life was 1.85 hours. A fast absorption was found after intramuscular injection, tmax = 10 min. (N = 4), and the drug had a clinically significant oropharyngeal absorption as well, tmax was around 1 hour (N = 6). The intramuscular and oropharyngeal, but not the intravenous, administrations produced a marked postoperative sedative and amnesic effects. All three administration ways caused a significant antisecretory action.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D009960:Oropharynx; D011247:Pregnancy; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012601:Scopolamine