Biopharmaceutical investigation of rectal suppositories. Part 2(1): Pharmaceutical and biological availability of phenobarbital and phenobarbital-sodium.

: The influence of the suppository base and drug solubility on the release an absorption of phenobarbital and phenobarbital-sodium from model suppositories was investigated. It was established that the pharmaceutical and biological availability of phenobarbital is higher from a hydrophilic base because of its improved solubility. The rate and the degree of release of phenobarbital-sodium are more significant from lipophilic bases. The bioavailability of two drug forms-phenobarbital and phenobarbital-sodium--is almost equal after rectal and oral administration.