Assessment of antipyrine kinetics by measurement in saliva.

The half-life of antipyrine has been estimated from saliva samples in ten subjects by a gas chromatographic method. Half-life, apparent volume of distribution and total body clearance estimated from saliva and plasma concentrations of antipyrine are not significantly different. The concentration of antipyrine in saliva is independent of flow rate within the range expected in healthy subjects in response to mechanical and sapid stimuli. Antipyrine estimation in saliva could facilitate many areas of phaamacokinetic research limited by the difficulty of obtaining serial plasma samples.