Rectal and sublingual administration of tacrolimus: a single-dose pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The immunosuppressant tacrolimus is usually administered orally. When this is not feasible, other routes of administration may be useful. Previous research suggested that tacrolimus may be applied sublingually or rectally. Pharmacokinetic data are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetics of these alternative formulations with orally administered tacrolimus.

Methods

Three single, fixed-dose formulations of tacrolimus were administered in a random sequence in 18 healthy subjects, using a cross-over study design. For sublingual administration, 3 mg of powder obtained from oral capsules was applied under the tongue for a period of 15 min without swallowing, with mouth rinsing afterwards. For rectal administration, a suppository conta

SUBMITTER: Stifft F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4243873 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature