Enhanced rectal absorption of theophylline, lidocaine, cefmetazole, and levodopa by several adjuvants.

Ten potential adjuvants for rectal absorption which are structurally similar to salicylate have been examined using an in situ perfusion of the rat rectum technique as well as an in vivo absorption method from microenemas. All of the adjuvants studied readily disappeared from the perfusate at pH 4.5; however, several were not absorbed well at pH 7.4. Only those that were lost rapidly from the perfusate at pH 7.4 were effective in enhancing the disappearance of the drugs (theophylline, lidocaine, cefmetazole, and levodopa) at either a pH of 4.5 or 7.4. The compounds that were effective in promoting the disappearance of drugs from the rectal perfusate all had hydroxy and carboxy groups. Those substances lacking a hydroxy group were not effective. The binding of these potential adjuvants and salicylates to rat rectum tissue was studied by equilibrium dialysis. Those adjuvants with relatively high binding to rat rectal tissue were better absorbed themselves and promoted the disappearance of drugs more than those substances exhibiting little binding. Thus, adjuvant binding to some feature of the rectal membrane appears to be important in the enhanced absorption of drugs from the rectum under the conditions of this study.