Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two gabapentin preparations. We used Neurontin tablet 800 mg (Pfizer Korea Inc.) as a reference drug for bioequivalence of Gabalep tablet 800 mg (Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co., Korea), and performed this whole study according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty five healthy male volunteers were administered with each drug in a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study with one week washout interval. After drug administration, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals ($0{\sim}24$ hours) and the concentrations of gabapentin in serum were determined using an high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) employing electrospray ionization technique and operating in multiple reaction mornitoring (MRM). The analytical method was validated in specificity, accuracy, precision and linearity. The phar-macokinetic parameters such as AUCt and Cmax were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed AUCt and Cmax. $Mean{\pm}SD$. of AUCt and Cmax value for reference drug and test drug were $29.94{\pm}9.23\;({\mu}g/mL{\cdot}hr)$ and $3.12{\pm}1.11\;({\mu}g/mL{\cdot}hr)$, and $31.48{\pm}9.77\;({\mu}g/mL{\cdot}hr)$ and $3.15{\pm}1.03\;({\mu}g/mL)$, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log(0.8) to log(1.25) for AUCt and Cmax, respectively. These results indicate that Gabalep tablet 800 mg is bioequivalent to Neurontin tablet 800 mg.
