Comparative pharmacokinetics of metronidazole and tinidazole used as single dose prophylactic agents.
The pharmacokinetic properties of metronidazole (M) and tinidazole (T) were studied in patients undergoing colorectal surgery after a single preoperative dose of 1500 mg infused during 50 minutes. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used to determine serum concentrations, which for M and T were almost identical during the first 12 hours. After 24 hours, the concentration of T were slightly higher. Both drugs were detected in serum at 72 hours. The serum half-life (t1/2) was 9.4 hours for M and 17.6 hours for T, whereas the hydroxymetabolite of M had a t1/2 of 17.6 hours. There was considerable interindividual variation in both T and M concentrations. The prophylactic use of a single preoperative dose of 1500 mg of either M or T in elective colorectal surgery is supported by favourable pharmacokinetic properties of both drugs.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011292:Premedication; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014011:Tinidazole; D008795:Metronidazole