title: Single-dose pharmacokinetics of acyclovir.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered acyclovir were studied in 10 patients with advanced malignancies. After doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, the slow disposition half-life values (t1/2beta) ranged from 2.2 to 3.1 h for the 1-h infusions and from 1.8 to 3.7 h for the 6-h infusions. Plasma levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, reached a maximum at the end of the 1-h infusions and approached steady state at 3 to 4 h into the 6-h infusions. Mean peak plasma concentrations obtained at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg administered over 1 h were 3.03 and 5.99 microM, respectively. Mean peak levels for the 6-h infusions were 1.07 microM at 0.5 mg/kg and 2.58 microM at 1.0 mg/kg. The mean urinary elimination of acyclovir was 44.7% of the administered doses. No clinical or laboratory abnormalities were noted in the 10 patients studied.
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006147:Guanine; D000212:Acyclovir