Influence of food on the pharmacokinetics of dipyrone

Twelve healthy volunteers were given a single oral dose of dipyrone 1 g, once while fasting and once after a standard breakfast. Plasma levels of the active dipyrone metabolite - Methylaminoantipyrine (MAA) were measured and the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters were compared. Taking dipyrone with food resulted in a small delay in the mean time to peak from 1.5 h to 1.9 h (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in AUC, C_max or K_elim between fasting and nonfasting conditions. The rate of absorption, expressed as the mean K_abs, was somewhat slower in the nonfasting state, but not significantly so. It is suggested that dipyrone may be taken regardless of the times of eating.