The effect of posture on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous benzylpenicillin.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered benzylpenicillin in normal subjects during bedrest and during ambulation. The values of total body clearance, mean residence time, and renal clearance found during ambulation were 487.4 +/- 100.5 ml/min, 36.23 +/- 13.45 min, and 309.4 +/- 93.4 ml/min (means +/- SD). The corresponding values for bedrest were 543.6 +/- 122.6 ml/min, 35.27 +/- 10.21 min, and 324.1 +/- 145.3 ml/min. There were no significant differences between any of these pharmacokinetic variables with the change in posture. These results differ from previously reported results for the effects of posture on the pharmacokinetics of penicillins administered by extravascular routes, and suggest that the absorption of benzylpenicillin may be dependent on posture.