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Acetaminophen (APAP) suppositories with active ingredients, i.e., polyethylene glycol (PEG), Witepsol H-15 (WH), were prepared for hospital use and investigated on their drug release characteristics and pharmacokinetics. WH was employed as oil-soluble base with an aim of reducing fragility and mucosa irritancy that are common drawbacks found in PEG suppositories. Also hollow type suppository was tried as compared with conventional type suppository. Drug release tests revealed that in most formulations, more than 80% of loaded APAP were released within 20 minutes, except for APAP-WH hollow type suppositories. Significant differences in the plasma concentration profile were observed among four type suppositories. T_{max} of APAP-PEG and APAP-WH suppositories were 90 and 60 minutes, respectively, in hollow types. APAP-WH hollow type suppositories demonstrated fast absorption rates of APAP as compared with those of APAP-PEG suppositories. No burst effect was observed from APAP-WH suppository in contrast to APAP conventional type suppository, whereas AUCs of all the suppositories were similar. APAP-WH hollow type suppository may be an useful dosage form for hospital use.
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