Safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of cefpirome administered intramuscularly to healthy subjects.

The pharmacokinetics of cefpirome were studied in healthy male subjects following single (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g) and multiple (1.0 g every 12 h for 3.5 days) intramuscular injections. High pressure liquid chromatography was used to determine cefpirome concentrations in plasma and urine. Cefpirome was absorbed rapidly, mean peak times were 1.6-2.3 h. Pharmacokinetics were linear over the 0.5 to 2.0 g range with mean total body clearance ranging from 148 to 154 mL/min. The peak plasma concentration and area under the curve increased in a dose proportional manner. The terminal half-life (2 h) was not influenced by dose or duration of dosing. There was no drug accumulation after multiple in administrations. About 70-80% of an administered dose was excreted in the urine as unchanged cefpirome. Cefpirome was well tolerated, slight to moderate pain being reported in less than 30% of the injections.