Amoxicillin kinetics and ethanol ingestion.

The effect of ethyl alcohol ingestion on amoxicillin kinetics was studied. Eight healthy volunteers participated in the study. They received, in three separate occasions, a 500-mg dose of the antibiotic given with water, hydroalcoholic solution or pisco-sour. Blood samples were drawn at appropriate intervals. Amoxicillin was assayed using a microbiological method. Absorption and disposition parameters were calculated by classical pharmacokinetic techniques. There were no statistical significant differences in the rate of elimination of the antibiotic in the three experimental conditions. Ethanol affected significantly the absorption rate constant, lag time and t peak. On the other hand, Cmax and AUC were not significantly modified. Thus, it can be concluded that ethyl alcohol has influence on the rate but not on the extent of absorption.