Abstract:
There is presented a method, in the form of a dosage formulation, for transforming substantially orally inactive. beta. -lactam antibiotics or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts or the esters, ethers, or hydrates of said antibiotics or their salts into orally active compounds by combination of the chosen. beta. -lactam antibiotic with an enhancer comprising an aliphatic, preferably a C. sub. 2 to C. sub. 18, straight- or branched-chain, saturated or unsaturated, fatty acid or an aliphatic, preferably a C. sub. 2 to C. sub. 12, straight- or branched-chain, saturated or unsaturated, fatty acid mono-, di- or triglyceride or mixtures thereof, partial or total esters of propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and carbohydrates of C. sub. 2 to C. sub. 12 fatty acids, as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable esters and ethers of said glycerides. The antibiotic and enhancer mixture may be administered orally as a solid dosage form with the. beta.