The absolute bioavailability of oral cefuroxime axetil in male and female volunteers after fasting and after food

Cefuroxime axetil is a novel oral cephalosporin. Two studies are described in which fasting male and female volunteers were given single oral doses of 1 g cefuroxime axetil in comparison with intravenous cefuroxime, and in which absorption was compared in the fasting and non-fasting states. The mean (and range) absolute bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil in the first study was 0.35 (0.26–0.44) in male volunteers and 0.32 (0.23–0.41) in female volunteers. In the second study, the bioavailability was significantly greater when cefuroxime axetil was given after food: 0.45 (0.34–0.55) in males and 0.41 (0.29–0.51) in females. There were no differences between the pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime axetil in males and females. It is recommended that patients take doses of cefuroxime axetil shortly after food.