Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Metronidazole in Man

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Abstract
Metronidazole (500 mg) [an antibiotic] was infused over 20 min to 5 patients. At the end of the infusion, blood samples were drawn at brief intervals. After subsequent metronidazole analysis the curve plotted for the elimination of the drug showed a biexponential profile. Mean peak serum concentrations reached 15 .mu.g/ml. At the end of the distribution phase, 20-30 min after the infusion, the concentration had fallen to 10 .mu.g/ml. A 2-compartment model was used to calculate the kinetic parameters. The elimination half-life was 4.7-15.8 h the total clearance from 43-193 ml/min, and the peripheral distribution volume from 41.5-79.1 1. The areas under the serum level curves exhibited a 4-fold variation, due to differences in either metabolism or elimination rate.