title: Buprenorphine pharmacokinetics: relative bioavailability of sublingual tablet and liquid formulations.
abstract: Buprenorphine is an effective new treatment for opiate dependence. This study compared the bioavailability of buprenorphine from a tablet to that from a reference solution. Six men experienced with, but not dependent on, opiates (DSM-III-R) were each administered 7.7 mg of buprenorphine in liquid form and 8 mg in tablet form 1 week apart in a balanced crossover design. Plasma levels were measured by electron capture capillary gas chromatography (GC), and concentration-time curves were constructed. Pharmacokinetic data were analyzed by analysis of variance. The bioavailability from the tablet was approximately 50% that from the liquid and was not affected by saliva pH. Lower bioavailability from the tablet may be due to slow dissolution.
authors.affiliation: Drug Dependence Research Center, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0984, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Everhart
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shwonek
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mendelson
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009294:Narcotics; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D013607:Tablets; D002047:Buprenorphine