Oral kinetics and bioavailability of the cholinesterase reactivator HI-6 after administration of 2 different formulations of tablets to dogs.

A one-compartment open model with first-order absorption was used for comparing new oral formulations of the potent acetylcholinesterase reactivating oxime HI-6. Although mean peak plasma levels did not differ between retard and conventional tablets (21.38 and 20.74 mumol/l), the time for reaching peak levels was significantly longer (5.5 h) with retard than with conventional tablets (2.86 h). Among other pharmacokinetic estimates only absorption half-lives and areas under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were significantly different (P less than 0.05). The AUC with retard tablets was 8.07% and that of conventional tablets 5.42% of intravenous AUC, indicating low bioavailability of oral HI-6 formulations. Potential therapeutic use of HI-6 requires, therefore, further investigations in order to improve its gastrointestinal absorption.