Pharmacokinetics of Loxoprofen and Cefcapene following a Single Combined Dose in Healthy Volunteers before, during or Immediately after 120-min Enteral Tube Feeding of 400 mL Ensure Liquid^®

Abstract

Enteral feeding is commonly performed in medical and nursing care facilities. Enteral feeding takes a long time ; therefore, the dosing of drugs indicated for postprandial administration is always challenging clinics that lack knowledge of the potential effects of enteral tube feeding on clinical pharmacokinetics. In this study, the effects of enteral tube feeding on the pharmacokinetics of loxoprofen and cefcapene were investigated in a parallel group study design, in which Group I (N＝7) received loxoprofen (fine granules, 120 mg) and cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride (fine granules, 100 mg) co-administered 15 min before the start of 120 min tube feeding with 400 mL of Ensure Liquid^®. Group II (N＝7) received test drugs during (i.e., 60 min after the start of) 120 min tube feeding, and Group III (N＝7) received the test drugs after (i.e., at the end of) 120 min tube feeding. The C_max of loxoprofen and cefcapene were statistically higher in Group I when the drugs were administered 15 min before tube feeding. The C_max of loxoprofen in Group I was 58.7% and 82.8% higher than that in Group II and Group III, respectively. The C_max of cefcapene in Group I was 43.3% and 32.2% higher than that in Group II and Group III, respectively. Although the AUC_∞ appeared to be similarly higher in Group I, no significant difference was observed between the 3 groups. However, these changes did not appear to be critically meaningful in the clinic. Administration of loxoprofen and cefcapene in patients under enteral tube feeding should be clinically manageable.