Bioavailability of metoclopramide from a new chewing gum device

Metoclopramide is widely used in the treatment of nausea. The development of metoclopramide as medicated chewing gum has potential advantages in terms of patient compliance, fast onset of effect and improved bioavailability. In this study, bioavailability of metoclopramide from a new chewing gum device, 3TabGum, was evaluated in healthy volunteers. Medicated chewing gum was well tolerated in all subjects. Compared with immediate release tablets, AUC following administration of chewing gum was higher (224.9 vs. 166.5 ng h/mL), while tmax was smaller (1.38 vs. 1.88 h), suggesting improved bioavailability and rapid onset of drug absorption. However, absorption rate was lower, as evidenced by lower Cmax (17.2 vs. 20.8 ng/mL). Terminal half-life was prolonged (11.58 vs. 5.35 h), implying that initial fast release of metoclopramide is followed by much slower release of the remaining smaller portion of the drug. These results indicate that chewing gum is a promising alternative to current metoclopramide formulations.