Experimental and clinicopharmacological study of rectal absorption of chloroquine.

Chloroquine administered as a rectal suppository is resorbed both in rabbits and human volunteers. Although the chloroquine blood level in rabbit is proportional to the dose investigated, the human rectal mucosa has a limited absorption capacity of chloroquine being saturated at 15 mg/kg dose. In spite of this saturation character the chloroquine applied as rectal suppository may be a suitable formulation to treat or prevent the malarial infection for persons unable to take the drug perorally, e.g. children, or unconscious adults, or persons suffering with GI complaints after swallowing the chloroquine tablet.