Phenytoin pharmacokinetics in the rabbit: evidence of rapid autoinduction.

ABSTRACT

Phenytoin pharmacokinetics were studied during continuous intravenous infusion in 12 New Zealand white rabbits. The mean clearance at 40 hours (5.1 +/- 1.1 ml/min per kg; mean +/- SE) was significantly greater than that at 16 hours (3.1 +/- 0.5 ml/min per kg; p less than 0.05). These data suggest that with chronic administration, autoinduction of metabolism results in an increase in the rate of phenytoin clearance in the rabbit.