Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of viqualine, a new antidepressant.

A high performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for plasma and urine levels measurement of viqualine. The assay was used to study the disposition of 25 mg intravenous and oral single doses in five healthy subjects. Two exponential terms were required to describe the disposition of the drug after intravenous and oral administration. The bioavailability of oral viqualine averaged 80%. The mean apparent half-life was 12.1 +/- 1.9 and 11.9 +/- 1.4 h (mean +/- s.e.m., n = 5) after 25 mg I.V. and oral dose respectively. The apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) were 1578 +/- 132 1 (after I.V. administration) and 1572 +/- 201 1 (after oral administration). The body and renal clearances were respectively 1.56 +/- 0.31 1.h-1. kg-1 and 1.57 +/- 0.31 1.h-1. kg-1, after 25 mg bolus I.V.