The in vitro adsorption of some antibiotics on antacids.

The adsorption of oxytetracycline hydrochloride, tetracycline hydrochloride, doxycycline hyclate, triacetyloleandomycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and cloxacillin sodium was studied on various antacids namely, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, bismuth oxycarbonate, aluminium hydroxide, and kaolin. The adsorption of the various antibiotics by milk was also tested as milk is frequently used as an antacid. Charcoal was included in the present study as a model adsorbent having a large hydrophobic surface. The adsorption of the various antibiotics on the different antacids and other adsorbents in most cases obeyed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Magnesium trisilicate and magnesium oxide showed the highest adsorptive capacity, relative to other antacids used, for most antibiotics. Calcium carbonate and aluminium hydroxide and intermediate power while kaolin and bismuth oxycarbonate had the least adsorptive power. Charcoal exhibited a marked adsorption for all antibiotics tested. Tetracyclines were found to be more highly adsorbed than other antibiotics studied. Triacetyloleandomycin and chloramphenicol had intermediate values. Ampicillin was only adsorbed to a slight extent while cloxacillin was not adsorbed on the antacids used. The extent of adsorption was correlated to the structure of both the adsorbent and adsorbate, the pH of the adsorbent suspension, and to the polarity of the antibiotic in such pH. The reversibility of the adsorption process was studied in different media and at pH values similar to those of the gastrointestinal tract. The extent of elution was found to be inversely proportional to the adsorptive capacity of the different adsorbents. In general, 0.0143 n NaHCO3 solution was found to possess higher eluting properties than 0.01 n HCl. An exception to this pattern was observed with tetracyclines adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide where the elution with acid resulted in a higher degree of desorption. Careful in vitro and in vivo testing of drug availability is advisable prior to the concomitant administration of antibiotics with antacids or other adsorbents.