Influence of honey on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in healthy rabbits.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of honey on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in rabbits. In a cross-over study, phenytoin was orally administered at a dose of 28 mg/kg and blood samples were taken at different time intervals, from 0-24 h. Following a washout period of 7 days, honey at a dose of 3 ml was administered with phenytoin (28 mg/kg) and blood samples were taken from 0-48 h. Honey (3 ml) was administered every day for a further 7 days. On the 8th day, honey (3 ml) was administered with phenytoin (28 mg/kg) and blood samples were taken from 0-48 h. Plasma was separated and assayed for phenytoin using the HPLC technique and various pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. It was concluded that honey increases the rate and extent of absorption of phenytoin by significantly increasing the C(max), T(max), t(1/2alpha), t(1/2el) and AUC((0-infinity)) of phenytoin. The result warrants the reduction of phenytoin dose when administered with honey in order to avoid toxicity. (c) 2003 Prous Science. All rights reserved.