Comparison of two compartmental models for describing ranitidine's plasmatic profiles

The plasmatic profiles of 12 healthy volunteers after oral administration of ranitidine (150 mg) were studied considering two compartmental models. We observed the presence of two peaks. The proposed mechanism responsible for the existence of secondary peaks includes enterohepatic recirculation and the existence of multiple sites of absorption along the gastrointestinal tract. For characterizing the pharmacokinetic aspect of the drug, both phenomena were described using two compartmental models. We calculated the pharmacokinetic parameters and statistical tests after fitting the data of each volunteer under both models proposed. Statistically significant differences were not found in the statistical test values but existed in the area under the curve (AUC) comparing between models. To decide which of the two proposed models gave the best approximation of the physiological phenomenon undergone, we studied the pharmacokinetic of the drug in the rat, an animal without gallbladder. After oral administration of ranitidine, the plasmatic profile of the animals showed at least two peaks. Less than 0.2% of an oral dose was recovered in bile as ranitidine. Therefore, and considering the rat has no post-absorptive depot from where the drug can be released discontinuously, enterohepatic recycling does not seem to contribute significantly to the occurrence of secondary peaks in the concentration-time profiles of rats. Considering the results, we proposed that the best model able to explain the plasmatic profiles found in man and rats after oral administration of ranitidine is the one that presents multiple sites of absorption along the gastrointestinal tract. It is important to define the correct model in the calculation of the AUC and so in the value of the absolute bioavailability. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.