Comparative Bioavailability Study of Cefixime Administered as Tablets or Aqueous Solution

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Abstract
The relative bioavailability of cefixime was studied in 24 healthy male volunteers, with each subject receiving a single 400mg dose of cefixime administered as an aqueous solution, a 400mg tablet and two 200mg tablets, in a randomised crossover sequence. Serum and urine samples were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Peak cefixime levels were achieved 3 hours after administration of the solution vs 4 hours for the 2 tablet formulations; however, the extent of absorption was only slightly improved with the solution (by 14 and 7% compared with the 1 × 400 and 2 × 200mg tablets, respectively). The 400mg and 2 × 200mg tablets were found to be bioequivalent. The pharmacokinetic profile of the 400mg cefixime tablet (mean maximum plasma concentrations of 4.4 mg/L at 4 hours, area under the concentration-time curve of 34.4 mg/L · h, and apparent terminal elimination half-life of 3.7 hours) supports the clinical evaluation of a 400mg once-daily dosage regimen for cefixime.