• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.513-518
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• 1998

Fluoxetine is a nontricyclic antidepressant which blocks serotonin reuptake selectively. Its N-demethyl metabolite, norfluoxetine is also selective inhibitor of serotonin uptake . This study was carried out to compare the bioavailability of Myung-in fluoxetine (20mg/cap.) with that of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$. The bioavailability was conducted on 24 healthy volunteers who received a single dose (80mg) of each drug in the fasting state, in a randomized balanced 2-way crossover design. After closing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 48 hours, Plasma was analyzed for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine by a sensitive and validated HPLC assay. The major pharmacokinetic parameters ($AUC_{0-48\;hr}$, Cmax, Tmax , $AUC_{inf.}$, MRT. $T_{1/2}$, Vd and Cl) were, calculated from the plasma fluoxetine concentration-time data of each volunteer. The microcomputer program, 'WinNonlin' was used for compartmental analysis. A two-compartment model with first-order input, first-order output and no lag time was chosen as the most appropriate pharmacokinetic model. The data were best described by using a weighting factor of $1/y^2$. Though the plasma fluoxetine concentrations of Myung-in fluoxetine were higher than those of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$ at all observed time from 7.9% to 16.9% (P<0.05 at 6.7 and 10 hr), the bioavailability of Myung-in fluoxetine appeared to be bioequivalent with that of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$. There were no statistical significant differences between the two drugs in all pharmacokinetic parameters including $AUC_{0-48\;hr}$ of norfluoxetine.