Effect of acute diarrhoea on the bioavailability of chloroquine in Myanmar subjects

ABSTRACT

Considering the possibility of altered bioavailability of during acute diarrhoea, there is a need to determine the therapeutic status of chloroquine as an antimalarial prophylactic during an attack of acute diarrhoea and to develop a reasonable basis for dose adjustment if necessary, in such clinical situations. Chloroquine 300 mg base was administered orally to 16 adult diarrhoeal patients from the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yangon and 12 healthy non-diarrhoeal volunteers. The drug serum levels at various time intervals up to 96 hours were analysed fluorometrically and the pharmacokinetic profile studied. Acute diarrhoea was found to decrease the rate, but did not alter the extent of absorption of chloroquine. Since the overall bioavailability of chloroquine remains unchanged, it was concluded that if there is no vomiting, dosage adjustment is not necessary in acute diarrhoea.