Abstract: A rectally administered unit dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an analgesic , an antipyretic or an anti-inflammatory agent capable of being absorbed into the bloodstream from a rectal compartment and an adjuvant, said adjuvant comprising lecithin present in said dosage form in a sufficient amount to be effective in enhancing and prolonging the absorption rate of said analgesic, antipyretic or anti-inflammatory agent from the rectal compartment into the bloodstream, in conjunction with a nontoxic, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the methods of using said unit dosage form.

Abstract: A method and drug form are provided for increasing the oral absorption of .beta.-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins, cephalosporins and related chemical species by the oral administration of said .beta.-lactam antibiotics in a suitable pharmaceutically accepted excipient to which has been added a hydroxy aryl or hydroxy aralkyl acid or salt, amide or ester thereof. The hydroxyaryl or hydroxyaralkyl acid or salt, amide or ester thereof is present in the drug form in quantities sufficient to be effective in enhancing the rate of oral absorption of the .beta.-lactam antibiotic.

Abstract: A method and drug form for enhancing the rate of absorption of a rectally administered drug from the rectal compartment into the blood stream of a warm blooded animal. The method includes the steps of preparing a drug form capable of being rectally administered. The drug form comprises a therapeutically effective unit dosage amount of a selected drug of the type which is capable of being absorbed into the blood stream from the rectal compartment and hydroxy aryl or hydroxy aralkyl acids or salts, amides or esters thereof, the hydroxy aryl or hydroxy aralkyl acids or salts, amides or esters thereof being present in the drug form in a sufficient amount to be effective in enhancing the drug absorption rate, when rectally administering the drug form to warm blooded animals.

Abstract: A method and drug form are provided for increasing the oral absorption of polar bioactive agents such as polypeptides by the oral administration of said polar bioactive agents in a suitable pharmaceutically accepted excipient to which has been added a hydroxyaromatic acid or salt as an adjuvant thereof. The adjuvant is present in the drug form in quantities sufficient to be effective in enhancing the rate of oral absorption of the polar bioactive agents.

Abstract: A method and drug form are provided for increasing the oral absorption of glycosidic and related antibiotics such as macrolide, aminoglycoside, lincomycin and anthracycline antibiotics and related chemical species by the oral administration of said glycosidic and related antibiotics in a suitable pharmaceutically accepted excipient to which has been added a hydroxyaryl or hydroxyaralkyl acid or salt thereof. The hydroxyaryl or hydroxyaralkyl acid or salt thereof is present in the drug form in quantities sufficient to be effective in enhancing the rate of oral absorption of glycosidic and related antibiotic.

Abstract: A method and drug form for enhancing the rate of absorption of a rectally administered drug from the rectal compartment into the blood stream of a warm blooded animal. The method includes the steps of preparing a .beta.-lactam drug form capable of being rectally administered. The drug form comprises a therapeutically effective unit dosage amount of a selected drug of the type which is capable of being absorbed into the blood stream from the rectal compartment and hydroxy aryl or hydroxy aralkyl acids or salts, amides or esters thereof, the hydroxy aryl or hydroxy aralkyl acids or salts, amides or esters thereof being present in the drug form in a sufficient amount to be effective in enhancing the drug absorption rate, when rectally administering the drug form to warm blooded animals.