[Comparative study of the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of isosorbide dinitrate formulations in retard form and in standard preparations by determination of isosorbide-5-mononitrate].

The aim of the study was to determine the relative bioavailability and the pharmacokinetic parameters following administration of a slow-release formulation of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN, Isdin) capsules (20, 40 and 60 mg). A gas chromatographic method was used to determine the plasma concentrations of ISDN and isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN). All of the required pharmacokinetic parameters were ascertained. The study was performed on 12 healthy volunteers in a steady-state crossover design. A comparison of the areas under the plasma concentration/time curves of the test preparations and the commercial preparations showed higher values for the test preparations in all of the investigations. However, these values were only statistically significant for the 40 and 60 mg formulations ISDN and the 60 mg formulation IS-5-MN.