The pharmacokinetics of a new benzamide drug,clebopride, in the rat and the dog

After intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration of clebopride in the rat and the dog its apparent volume of distribution is high (1·6–3·2 1 kg^?1) and it has a longer biological half-life than metoclopramide in both species. High clearance values and concentrations of metabolites in plasma after oral administration indicate that the drug is subjected to an extensive first pass metabolism in the rat. Thus, clebopride administered orally gives relatively low concentrations in the systemic circulation in rats even though it is rapidly absorbed. The metabolic processes appear to become saturated at high doses which is reflected in dose-dependent kinetics. Linear kinetics were observed in the dog, although enterohepatic recycling could occur.