Pharmacokinetics of propranolol.

The pharmacokinetics of propranolol after the administration of 40, 80, and 120 mg p.o. and 10 mg i.v. was studied in nine healthy male volunteers. Propranolol was analyzed after extraction and derivatization by gas-liquid chromatography. A multiexponential curve-stripping program was used for the pharmacokinetic analysis. The volume of distribution was about 6 liters . kg-1, bioavailability around 25%, with a mean terminal half-life of 6 hr. There was no evidence of either dose dependent disposition kinetics or an oral threshold dose. A slight increase in urine volume was observed after propranolol administration.