Bioequivalence evaluation of two formulations of fluconazole 150 mg capsule in healthy Arab men.

A randomized crossover study was conducted on 26 healthy Arab males to compare the bioavailability of two formulations of fluconazole 150 mg capsules, Fluconazole (test) and Diflucan (reference). The formulations were administered after an overnight fast with a washout period of 2 weeks. Twenty blood samples (per period) were collected over 168 h, plasma fluconazole concentrations were determined by locally validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay and pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed by the standard non-compartmental method. The mean +/- SD maximum concentration (C(max)), time to reach maximum concentration (T(max)), area under the curve (AUC(0-->t) and AUC(0-->infinity)) and elimination half-life (t(1/2)) were 3.17+/-0.47 and 3.24+/-0.59 microg/ml, 2.62+/-2.01 and 2.65+/-1.63 h, 149.52+/-29.49 and 151.36+/-25.84 microg.h/ml, 163.57+/-29.9 and 164.89+/-26.46 microg.h/ml, and 36.81+/-5.72 and 36.56+/-5.36 h for the test and reference drug, respectively. These values are similar to previously reported values in other ethnic groups. The parametric 90% confidence intervals on the mean of the difference (test-reference) between the log-transformed values of the two formulations were 95.484% to 101.035%, 96.382% to 101.245% and 94.621% to 102.074% for AUC(0-->t), AUC(0-->infinity) and C(max), respectively. The results indicate that the two formulations are equivalent in the rate and extent of absorption. Further, a review of the literature indicates that there is no apparent ethnic variation in the absorption and elimination rates of fluconazole.