Quinolone pharmacokinetics and metabolism.

The pharmacokinetic properties of the new fluoroquinolones are characterized by a high volume of distribution, long biological half-life, low serum protein binding, elimination by renal and extrarenal mechanisms with high total and renal clearances, limited biotransformation and moderate to excellent bioavailability after oral administration. However, each quinolone derivative (ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin) possesses individual pharmacokinetic parameters, which should be considered in the treatment of patients, especially when liver or renal dysfunction exists.