A comparison of the availability of prochlorperazine following i.m. buccal and oral administration

Abstract The administration of prochlorperazine by the i.m. p.o. and buccal routes has been evaluated in a series of single and multi-dose pharmacokinetic studies in non-patient volunteers. Studies have indicated that the drug has an elimination half-life of 8.1 h following single i.m. injection and 9.0 and 8.6 h following multi-dose administration by the buccal and oral routes, respectively. Plasma levels following single-dose (10 mg) oral administration are too low to obtain meaningful pharmacokinetic parameters but steady-state data indicates 3 mg b.d. buccal delivery (Buccastem - trademark of Reckitt & Colman Products Ltd.) to be equivalent to 5 mg t.i.d. oral (Stemetil - trademark of May & Baker Ltd.). This observation has been confirmed in clinical evaluation in patients suffering vertigo disorders.