Interactions between sparfloxacin and antacids - dissolution and adsorption studies.

Sparfloxacin is a broad-spectrum oral fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent with a long elimination half-life, extensively used against both Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative microorganism. Concurrent administration of antacids and sparfloxacin decreases the gastrointestinal absorption of sparfloxacin and therapeutic failure may result. The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of some antacids on the availability of sparfloxacin. The release of sparfloxacin from tablets in the presence of antacids like sodium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium trisilicate and magaldrate has been studied on BP 2003 dissolution test apparatus. These studies were carried out in simulated gastric and intestinal juices for three hours at 37 degrees C. The results confirmed that the dissolution rate of tablets was markedly retarded in the presence all of antacids studied, whereas magaldrate and calcium carbonate exhibited relatively higher adsorption capacities in simulated gastric juice and magnesium trisilicate and calcium hydroxide in simulated intestinal juice.