The effect of an intensive aluminum-magnesium hydroxide antacid regimen (Maalox TC) on the disposition of intravenous enoxacin was studied in six male and six female volunteers. A single 400-mg dose of enoxacin was administered intravenously over 30 min on two occasions separated by a 1-week washout period. Thirty milliliters of Maalox TC was administered at -8, -2.5, -0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 h relative to the start of one enoxacin infusion. The enoxacin dose in which antacid was coadministered was randomly selected. Fourteen plasma samples were collected over 24 h, and urine was collected in two divided intervals over 48 h. Enoxacin concentrations in plasma and urine samples were determined by highperformance liquid chromatographic assays. The intensive antacid regimen did not change the total clearance (P = 0.058) or steady-state volume of distribution (P = 0.516) for enoxacin. However, the nonrenal clearance and half-life were significantly altered (P < 0.05). Antacids containing magnesium and aluminum salts result in marked reductions in concentrations in plasma and the area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) of enoxacin and other fluoroquinolones after concurrent oral administration (1-3). This drug interaction occurs in part because of the reduced amount of absorption of the fluoroquinolone-metal ion complexes. Other mechanisms may increase the elimination rate of fluoroquinolones. After intravenous enoxacin administration to rats, 45% of a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight was recovered in the feces; however, biliary excretion accounted for only 2.5% of the dose (4). It is likely that either intestinal secretion or diffusion of enoxacin through the gastrointestinal mucosa is responsible. If this is the case, antacids could reduce the reabsorption of drug entering the intestinal lumen and may also promote gastrointestinal dialysis. In the study described here, we examined the effect of an intensive antacid (Maalox TC) regimen on the disposition of intravenously administered enoxacin.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was reviewed and approved by a licensed human research committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all volunteers. The study included 12 subjects (six males and six females). teers had a negative urine screen for drugs of abuse and had not received any medications within 2 weeks of the study.Enoxacin (400 mg) was administered as a single 30-min intravenous infusion on two occasions, 1 week apart. Thirty milliliters of aluminum-magnesium hydroxide antacid (Maalox TC; W. H. Rorer, Inc., Fort Washington, Pa.) was administered at 8, 2.5, and 0.5 h before and at 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 h following one of the enoxacin doses. The subjects were randomized to receive the Maalox TC regimen with either the first or second enoxacin dose in a crossover fashion. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were of low fat content, and mealtimes relative to the enoxacin dose were standardized.At 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, a...