The extremely fast appearance of formoterol in plasma shows the predominance of airways absorption shortly after inhalation. Due to a terminal elimination half-life of about 10 h, sustained systemic concentrations of formoterol are predicted for a twice daily treatment regimen without noteworthy accumulation. The excreted amounts in percent of dose of the enantiomers in urine and the enantiomer ratio are similar to data reported previously after lower doses and suggest linear kinetics for doses between 12 microg and 120 microg of formoterol fumarate. The expected side effects on heart rate, QTc interval, and plasma potassium were small and had no clinical consequences in spite of the very high dose of 120 microg (5 to 10 times the recommended therapeutic dose of Foradil). It should be noted that the impact of high doses may be greater in patients. Nevertheless these findings provide reassurance on the safety margin of formoterol after accidental and intentional overdosing.

Aims Preliminary results indicate higher absorption of triclabendazole (TCBZ) administered postprandially. Therefore, the influence of food on the pharmacokinetics of TCBZ and its active sulphoxide (TCBZ-SO) and sulphone (TCBZ-SO2) metabolites was investigated. Methods Two single doses (10 mg kg −1 ) of TCBZ were administered to 20 patients with fascioliasis. Ten patients were first given the drug after a high energy breakfast and then, 48 h later, after an overnight fast. The other 10 patients first received the drug in fasting state and then, 48 h later, after breakfast. A low energy breakfast was served 2 h after drug administration for fasting state.Results Compared with the fasting state, an increased AUC and C max after food intake (significant, P<0 . Tolerability to the treatment among the patients was good. Conclusions The administration of triclabendazole with food is recommended for improved systemic availability in patients with fascioliasis or paragonimiasis.

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The effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of the antiepileptic rufinamide was investigated in healthy volunteers. Twelve subjects were treated with single per‐oral doses of 600 mg of rufinamide after overnight fasting or a fat and protein rich breakfast. Mean (±S.D.) areas under the plasma concentration–time curves (AUCs) of the unchanged compound were 57.2 (16) μg mL−1 h when given to the fasted volunteers and 81.7 (22.2) μg mL−1 h (p = 0.0001) when given after the breakfast. The average AUC was increased by 44% when rufinamide was given with food and the maximum concentration (Cmax) by about 100%. The time at which Cmax was reached (tmax) was shorter (8 h in fasted conditions and 6 h in fed after breakfast); the terminal half‐life was not influenced by concomitant intake of food. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.