Effect of polyethylene glycol 400 on the intestinal permeability of carbamazepine in the rabbit.

Because of the limited solubility of carbamazepine, aqueous solutions are usually prepared using glycols as cosolvents. This research focuses on the effect of varying the composition of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) in aqueous solutions in rabbit intestinal permeability of carbamazepine in the duodenojejunum and the ascending colon using an in situ perfusion technique. In both segments the intestinal permeability varied inversely with the percentage of PEG-400, when the concentration of carbamazepine in the perfusing solution was maintained constant. The decreased permeability may be explained by a reduction in the thermodynamic activity of carbamazepine with increased concentrations of PEG-400, as well as by reverse solvent drag because of the hyperosmolarity of the perfusing solutions.