• C G Wilson, Cyril P Clarke, Yan Yan L Starkey, and Geoffrey D Clarke.
• Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
• Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2011 Jul 1;37(7):747-53.

ContextAcetaminophen (paracetamol, APAP) is widely used to relieve mild-to-moderate pain and reduce fever. Absorption of the drug can be impacted by dosage form; this may have implications for pain relief in some individuals, potentially accounting for suboptimal efficacy in analgesia.ObjectiveTo assess the disintegration and dissolution of a new fast-dissolving acetaminophen tablet formulation (FD-APAP) and the impact on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters.Materials And MethodsTwo randomized, single-center, open-label, single-dose, two-way crossover studies in healthy subjects to compare FD-APAP (2 × 500 mg tablets) with standard acetaminophen (2 × 500 mg tablets). Gamma scintigraphy was used to assess tablet disintegration (Study 1, N = 24), and plasma profiles were evaluated in the fasted state (Study 2, N = 40).ResultsIn Study 1, the mean time to complete disintegration (12.9 vs. 69.6 min, P < 0.0001) and onset of disintegration were both significantly faster with FD-APAP than with standard acetaminophen (P < 0.0001). For Study 2, median T(max) was significantly faster for FD-APAP (0.50 vs. 0.67 h, P < 0.01) and AUC(0-30 min) was significantly greater (4.51 vs. 2.74, P < 0.05). AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-inf) were comparable between the two study treatments.DiscussionDespite the absence of comparative clinical data, the FD-APAP formulation may be expected to overcome some of the issues associated with the slow and variable absorption of standard acetaminophen tablet formulations, improving therapeutic outcome and avoiding the need to switch to alternative therapeutic options.ConclusionCompared with standard acetaminophen, the FD-APAP formulation results in significantly faster onset of disintegration and more rapid absorption.

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