• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2003

Dopamine is an effective pressor for the treatment of shock and hypotension when patients do not respond to plasma volume expansion. Two dopamine intravenous delivery systems are currently available in Korea. The objective of this study was to compare dopamine premixed with prefilled system in terms of supply costs (preparation costs + personnel time), contamination rates and convenience. Time-and-motion studies were conducted to determine the time and costs associated with preparation and administration of the two systems. They were analyzed and compared by Mann-Whitney test. To evaluate the contaminaton rates of the two systems, both systems were prepared in an open environment similar to that of practical situations. Premixed and compounded solutions were then filtered by $0.22{\mu}m$ membrane filters, which were cultured at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 days and their contents were visually checked for bacterial contamination. The convenience of the two systems was compared by itemized user assessments on preparation, dose calculation, admixture, administration and disposal of waste matters. They were analyzed by Wilcoxon's signed rank test and 100 part percentage. It was found that the preparation costs $(mean{\pm}SD)$ for premixed and prefilled systems were $271.70\pm293.55\;Won$ (Korean currency) and $1521.04\pm510.63\;Won$, respectively. The preparation time $(mean{\pm}SD)$ for premixed system was $68.10\pm35.69\;sec.$ while at for prefilled system was $154.03\pm50.06\;sec.$ (n=59 each, p<0.001). No bacterium was observed in the samples of both systems (n=20, each). User assessments indicated that the premixed system was more convenient than the prefilled system except for the item of dose calculation (n=24, p<0.001). Subjective evaluations have proven that the use of the dopamine premixed system resulted in increased efficiency of intravenous preparation by allowing personnel to devote more time to other labor-intensive duties and lower total medical costs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2002

A self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was developed to increase the dissolution rate, solubility, and ultimately bioavailability of a poorly water soluble drug, lovastatin. SMEDDS was thε mixtures of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants, which emulsify under conditions of gentle agitation, similar to those which would be encountered in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Various types of self-emulsifying formulations were prepared using four types of oil (Capryol 90, Lauroglycol 90, Labrafil M 1944 CS and Labrafil M 2125), two surfactants (Cremophor EL and Tween 80), and three cosurfactants (Carbitol, PEG 400 and propylene glycol). Thε efficiency of emulsification was studied using a laser diffraction size analyzer to determine particle size distributions of the resultant emulsions. Optimized formulations selected for bioavailability assessment were Carpryol 90 (40%), Cremophor EL (30%) and Carbitol (30%). SMEDDS containing lovastatin (20 mg and 5 mg) were compared to a conventional lovastatin tablet $(Mevacor^{\circledR},\;20\;mg/tab)$ by the oral administration as prefilled hard gelatin capsules to fasted beagle dogs for in vivo study. The arεa under the serum concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measured time in serum, $AUC_{0{\rightarrow}24h}$, was significantly greater in SMEDDS, suggesting that bioavailability increase 130% and 192% by the SMEDDS, respectively. The self-emulsifying formulations of lovastatin afforded the improvement in absolute oral bioavailability relative to previous data of lovastatin tablet formulation. These data indicate the utility of dispersed self-emulsifying formulations for the oral delivery of lovastatin and potentially other poorly absorbed drugs.