Pharmacokinetics of metoclopramide intravenously and orally determined by liquid chromatography.

1 A rapid and sensitive method, based on liquid chromatography, has been developed for determination of metoclopramide concentrations in plasma and urine samples. Concentrations down to 15 nmol/1 (5 ng/ml) of plasma and 100 nmol/1 (30 ng/ml) of urine could be determined with a relative standard deviation of less than or equal to 10%. The method was used to study disposition of metoclopramide in healthy volunteers following single doses intravenously and orally as aqueous solution and a slow release tablet. 2 The initial distribution after intravenous administration was very rapid. The elimination half-life postdistribution was 4.9 h. The apparent volume of distribution, Vd, was 3.0 1/kg body weight. On average 19% was excreted unchanged after intravenous administration of 5 and 10 mg (15 and 30 mumol) of drug. The rate of absorption of metoclopramide was delayed after administration of a slow release tablet and the maximum plasma concentration was about 50% lower than after a solution. The extent of bioavailability was the same following the two different formulations suggesting a first-pass elimination of 25-40%.