The gastrointestinal transit of a controlled release formulation of indomethacin

Abstract The gastrointestinal transit of a controlled release indomethacin tablet has been evaluated in vivo in a group of six fasted and fed subjects using the technique of gamma-scintigraphy. The product was similar in its gastrointestinal transit behaviour to other pharmaceutical dosage forms; emptying of the tablet from the stomach was slowed by the presence of food but transit through the small intestine was not affected by feeding conditions. In vivo the tablet underwent a process of gradual dissolution and diffusion followed by complete dispersion. The bioavailability of indomethacin from this preparation was not affected by the presence of food.