Bioavailability of digoxin from rapidly dissolving preparations

1 Intestinal absorption of digoxin was assessed by determination of peak plasma concentrations, areas under plasma concentration curves over 80 h, and 10 day urinary excretion. Absorption was equal after ingestion of single doses of standard Lanoxin (Wellcome) tablets, tablets and capsules of ultra-rapid dissolution rate material, or an oral solution of digoxin in water.

2 Mean plasma concentrations and dosage-interval urinary excretion were highly similar during 14 day courses of either Lanoxin or ultra-rapid dissolution tablets. Increased bioavailability does not result from encapsulation of solid dosage presentations, nor from increasing tablet dissolution rate beyond 75% in 15 minutes.

3 Fourteen day courses of tablets of slow dissolution rate produced lower and less consistent mean plasma concentrations and urinary excretion. Slow dissolution rates are associated with greater individual variability in absorption.