Effect of food on the absorption and pharmacokinetics of prednisolone from enteric-coated tablets.

Prednisolone absorption and bioavailability of 10 mg enteric-coated (EC) and plain (uncoated) tablets were investigated after fasting and heavy meals (EC only) consumed to satiety in normal healthy volunteers. The same volunteers had also received 16 mg of prednisolone intravenously. In fasted subjects, the absolute bioavailability fraction, as normalised for intravenous doses, of prednisolone from plain tablets was 1.055 and from EC tablets was 0.996. The peak concentrations after plain and EC tablets were 309 and 249 ng/ml attained at 0.98 and 5.14 h, respectively. The means plasma elimination half-lives following the plain, EC tablets and intravenous administration in fasting conditions were 3.73, 3.89 and 3.78 h, respectively. Food interfered with both the absorption and the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone after EC tablets resulting in variability in its plasma levels. In some cases absorption of prednisolone was delayed for 12 h and remained at a measurable level for 24 h. In other cases, a normal absorption pattern was observed. This inter- and intrasubject variability of the effect of food appears to be related to its quantity, constituents and also the subjects physiological characteristics. It is concluded that enteric-coated prednisolone tablets should be administered at least 2 h between meals. However, for more predictable corticosteroid absorption (perhaps thus avoiding the therapeutic failure), plain prednisolone tablets are preferable.