• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.317-322
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• 2011

Sertraline HCl, (1S-cis)-4-(3, 4-dichloro-phenyl)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-N-methyl-l-naphthalenamine hydrochloride, is a potent and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which is used in the treatment of depression and obsessivecompulsive disorders. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two sertraline HCl tablets, Traline tablet (Myungin Pharm. Co. Ltd.) and Zoloft$^{(R)}$ tablet (Pfizer Inc.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The in vitro release of sertraline from the two sertraline HCl formulations was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media. Twenty four healthy Korean male volunteers, $23.50{\pm}1.74$ years in age and $64.09{\pm}7.10\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ crossover study was employed. After a single tablet containing 50 mg as sertraline HCl was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of sertraline in serum were determined using an online columnswitching HPLC method with UV/Vis detection. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in all tested dissolution media. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated, and computer programs (Equiv Test and K-BE Test) were utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and un-transformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, Zoloft$^{(R)}$ tablet, were 0.04, 3.26 and -1.29% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$, and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log0.8 to log1.25. Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Traline tablet was bioequivalent to Zoloft$^{(R)}$ tablet.