Gastrointestinal absorption of chlorothiazide: evaluation of a method using salicylazosulfapyridine and acetaminophen as the marker compounds for determination of the gastrointestinal transit time in the dog.

Gastrointestinal absorption properties of chlorothiazide was investigated in dogs by a double-marker method using acetaminophen and salicylazosulfapyridine as the markers. The mean absorption time of acetaminophen (MATAAP) and the time for first appearance of sulfapyridine in plasma (TFASP) were used for the assessment of gastric emptying and oro-colonic transit times, respectively. Chlorothiazide absorption efficiency was increased by pretreatment with atropine sulfate. There was a good correlation between MATAAP and the extent of bioavailability of chlorothiazide, however, there was no correlation between TFASP and the extent of bioavailability of the drug. These results indicate that chlorothiazide absorption takes place primarily in a limited segment of the upper small intestine, supporting the assumption reported previously. This double-marker method seems to be a useful tool for the investigation of the relationship between drug absorption and its gastrointestinal transit.