Does a Hot Drink Provide Faster Absorption of Paracetamol Than a Tablet? A Pharmacoscintigraphic Study in Healthy Male Volunteers

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the hypothesis that paracetamol is absorbed faster from a hot drink than from a standard tablet using simultaneous scintigraphic imaging and pharmacokinetic sampling.MethodsTwenty-five healthy male volunteers received both paracetamol formulations in a randomised manner. The formulation administered in the first treatment arm was radiolabelled to allow scintigraphic monitoring. In both treatment arms, blood samples were taken for assessing paracetamol absorption.ResultsFollowing the hot drink, paracetamol absorption was both significantly faster and greater over the first 60 min post-dose compared with the tablet, as evidenced by the median time to reach t0.25 μg/mL of 4.6 and 23.1 min, respectively, and AUC0-60 of 4668.00 and 1331.17 h*ng/mL, respectively. In addition, tmax was significantly shorter for the hot drink (median time = 1.50 h) compared with the tablet (1.99 h). However, Cmax was significantly greater following the tablet (9,077 ng/mL) compared with the hot drink (8,062 ng/mL). Onset of gastric emptying after the hot drink was significantly faster than after the standard tablet (7.9 versus 54.2 min), as confirmed scintigraphically.ConclusionsCompared with a standard tablet, a hot drink provides faster absorption of paracetamol potentially due to more rapid gastric emptying.

A single-dose, open-label, randomized, scintigraphic study to investigate the gastrointestinal behavior of 2 triple-combination cold products (acetaminophen, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan) in healthy male volunteers

“…Treatments that most effectively reduce cold symptoms have the potential to ease the economic burden associated with the common cold [ 1 – 3 ]. Hot drink remedies are associated with greater subject comfort and directly provide active ingredients in solution [ 7 ], which may result in the active ingredients reaching the bloodstream faster and being bioavailable more quickly compared with tablet formulations [ 6 ]. Prior research demonstrated that an unmedicated hot fruit drink can provide subjective relief from runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness, whereas the same drink at room temperature provided relief for only half of these symptoms [ 7 ].…”

“…Cold remedies and multisymptom drug combinations are available in a variety of formulations, including caplets, nasal sprays, and oral solutions. Hot drink remedies are associated with greater subject comfort and provide active ingredients in solution, which may result in the active ingredients reaching the bloodstream faster and being bioavailable more quickly compared with tablet formulations [ 6 , 7 ].…”