BIOAVAILABILITY OF ORAL PENICILLIN-V - COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF ABSORPTION OF DIFFERENT SALTS OF PENICILLIN-V IN CHILDREN

Different salts of penicillin V (pc-V): potassium pc-V, calcium pc-V and benzathine pc-V were given to 37 children (age 2 mo. to 4 yr) with upper respiratory infections. The gastrointestinal absorption of the drug given in a mixture was followed for 3 h after administration by determination of the serum levels from capillary samples. Administration of the mixtures containing the potassium pc-V resulted in a more rapid absorption and in significantly higher plasma concentrations at 30 min than did administration of the preparations containing the calcium and benzathine salts. In 4 children with celiac disease, verified by intestinal biopsy, the absorption of potassium pc-V was compared with that of calcium pc-V. A decreased absorption was found and this was most pronounced when the calcium salt was given.