Pharmacokinetics of benzydamine after intravenous, oral, and topical doses to human subjects

• Published in: Biopharmaceutics & drug disposition Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 481
• Main Authors: Baldock, G A, Brodie, R R, Chasseaud, L F, Taylor, T, Walmsley, L M, Catanese, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-10-1991
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Intravaginal; Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Benzydamine - administration & dosage; Benzydamine - blood; Benzydamine - pharmacokinetics; Biological Availability; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Mouthwashes
• ISSN: 0142-2782
• DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2510120702

The pharmacokinetics of the anti-inflammatory drug benzydamine were determined after intravenous infusion of 5 mg to six healthy male subjects. Benzydamine was characterized as a drug of relatively low systemic clearance (ca. 160 ml min-1) but high volume of distribution (ca. 1101); the apparent terminal half-life in plasma was ca. 8 h. Benzydamine was well absorbed after oral administration, as indicated by a mean systemic availability of 87 per cent. However, absorption of the drug was low (less than 10 per cent of the dose) after its use by male subjects as a mouthwash, or after its application to female subjects as dermal cream and vaginal douche preparations. The data suggest that benzydamine is generally not well absorbed through the skin and non-specialized mucosae, thereby limiting unrequired systemic exposure to this drug when it is used by these routes.