Kinetic aspects of misonidazole and its major metabolite in radiotherapy.

Oral doses of misonidazole between 0.75 and 1.3 g/m2 were administered during 3-5 days per week to 21 patients with various malignancies. Mean plasma levels of misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole at the times of radiotherapy were in the range 20-50 and 2-12 mg/l respectively. Slight accumulation of misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole in plasma was observed with a dosage interval of 24 h. In patients with anticonvulsant comedication plasma elimination half-lives of misonidazole of 4.1-8.9 h were found. Observed side-effects were nausea and vomiting (9%), exanthema or rashes (14%) and mild peripheral neuropathy (9%).