• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2002

Levosulpiride is the 1evo-enantiomer form of racemic sulpiride, a benzamide derivative selectively inhibiting dopaminergic $D_2$ receptors at the trigger zone both in the central nervous system and in the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequiva1ence of two levosulpiride tablets, Levopride (SK Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and Levopid (Dae Won Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The levosulpiride release from the two levosulpiride tablets in vitro was tested using KP VII Apparatus II method with various different kinds of dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty eight normal male volunteers, $23.82{\pm}3.26$ years in age and $69.13{\pm}8.58$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After one tablet containing 25 mg of levosulpiride was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of levosulpiride in serum were determined using HPLC method with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two levosulpiride tablets were very similar at all dissolution media. Besides, the pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets based on the Levopride were -1.17%, 1.20% and -1.09%, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two tablets in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log(0.8) to log(1.25) $(e.g.,\;log(0.93){\sim}log(1.07)\;and\;log(0.90){\sim}log(1.14)\;for\;AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence interval using untransformed data was within ${\pm}20%$ $(e.g.,\;-19.47{\sim}16.20\;for\;T_{max})$. All parameters met the criteria of KFDA guideline for bioequivalence, indicating that Levopid tablet is bioequivalent to Levopride tablet.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2003

Pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of levosulpiride was determined in Korean healthy male volunteers. Thirty subjects received a single oral dose (25 mg) of a tablet in a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over design. The plasma concentrations of levosulpiride were measured by HPLC and compared with those reported in the literature. Pharmacokinetic parameters for $Isomeric^{\circledR}$ tablet (levosulpiride 25 mg) were revealed as follows: $AUC_{inf}\;737.1{\pm}176.9\;ng{\cdot}hr/ml,\;C_{max}\;56.4{\pm}20.1\;ng/ml,\;T_{max}\;4.2{\pm}1.6\;hr,\;K_a\;1.00{\pm}1.09\;hr^{-1},\;K_{el}\;0.08{\pm}0.02\;hr^{-1},\;and\;t_{1/2}\;8.8{\pm}1.9\;hr$. The rate constant of the absorption phase was obtained based on the first-order kinetics. In the aspect of bioavailability, $Isomeric^{\circledR}$ tablet was bioequivalent to the other product $(Levopride^{\circledR}\;tablet)$ available in the Korea market. Intersubject variations and race differences were show in comparison with the published data in the literature, even though there was a linear relationship between dose ad extent of bioavailability.