Effect of staggered dose of calcium on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin

Abstract

The effect on ciprofloxacin's bioavailability (F) of calcium carbonate given 2 h before ciprofloxacin administration in 12 male volunteers was studied. The relative F with calcium was 0.98, maximum concentration of drug in serum increased significantly from 1.98 to 2.42 mg/liter (P = 0.039), and time to maximum concentration of drug in serum decreased from 1.82 to 1.26 h (P = 0.038). Thus, a single calcium carbonate dose, administered 2 h before ciprofloxacin, does not alter the F of this quinolone.