The effect of an antacid on the bioavailability of indomethacin

Summary The biovailability of indomethacin from two indomethacin-antacid (aluminum hydroxide magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide) combinations was compared with the bioavailability of oral indomethacin. Relative bioavailability was estimated by three methods: comparison of plasma concentrations at various times, comparison of areas under plasma concentration time curves, and comparison of the amount of drug excreted unchanged in the urine. A double blind three-way crossover study was conducted in twelve healthy volunteers. The combination with the slightly smaller amount of antacid (preparation A) showed significantly decreased bioavailability by all three methods in comparison with indomethacin alone (preparation C). The combination with the larger amount of antacid (preparation B) was also less bioavailable than preparation C. This effect was significant only for the comparison of areas under curves and not for plasma levels, although the mean plasma levels produced by preparation B at all times were lower than those for preparation C. These findings suggest that aluminum hydroxide magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide decrease the bioavailability of indomethacin.A preliminary report has been published as an abstract in Clin. Res.23, 219, 1975