Abstract

The bioavailability of marketed formulations of haloperidol (HAL) was estimated in the rabbit model by single dose study design where intramuscular formulation was considered as a reference standard. Using a sensitive HPLC method, plasma concentrations of HAL were measured upto 72 hours. The Cmax, tmax, AUC0-48 and relative bioavailability were compared using ANOVA and found not to be significantly different across the formulations. But plasma concentrations showed beyond toxic level (50 ng/ml) in all the formulations. Thus, monitoring of the HAL bioavailability for marketed formulations is needed for better therapeutic impact of chronic psychiatric treatment which may reduce the risk of HAL-induced extra-pyramidal side effects (EPS).