Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence evaluation of 2 levosulpiride preparations after a single oral dose in healthy male Korean volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the bioequivalence of a single oral 25 mg dose of 2 levosulpiride preparations in healthy male Korean volunteers.


METHODS
The study was conducted as a randomized, 2-period crossover design in 28 healthy male Korean volunteers who received a single oral dose of 25 mg levosulpiride tablet in each study period. There was a 6-day washout period between the doses. Serum concentrations of levosulpiride up to 36 hours after the administration were determined using a validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection. In addition, in vitro dissolution profiles of both preparations were examined. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC(0-t) (the area under the curve from zero to the time), AUC(0-infinity) (the area under the curve from zero to infinity), Cmax (maximum serum concentration), tmax (time to reach Cmax) and t1/2 (terminal half-life) were analyzed by non-compartmental analysis, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using logarithmically transformed AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity) and Cmax, and untransformed Tmax.


RESULTS
In vitro dissolution profiles were similar by calculating similarity factor (f2 = 67.73). There were no significant differences between the 2 preparations in AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity) and Cmax. The point estimates (90% confidence intervals) for AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity) and Cmax were 1.085 (1.003-1.173), 1.069 (0.991-1.153) and 1.075 (0.954 to 1.210), respectively, satisfying the bioequivalence criteria of 0.80-1.25 as proposed by the US FDA and the Korean legislation. No statistically significant difference was found for tmax and t1/2 values.


CONCLUSIONS
From the results of the present study, it is indicated that the 2 preparations of levosulpiride are bioequivalent and it can be assumed that they are therapeutically equivalent and exchangeable in clinical practice.
Cho
H Y
HY
College of Pharmacy and Institute of Bioequivalence and Bridging Study, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
Moon
J D
JD
Lee
Y B
YB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D013469:Sulpiride; C078143:levosulpiride