The pharmacokinetic parameters of cefixime were determined in healthy volunteers following oral administration of 200 mg cefixime as tablet, syrup and dry suspension, respectively. All three galenic formulations showed reliable absorption. Mean peak plasma concentrations amounted to 2.4-3.4 mg/l and were reached after 3.3-3.5 h. Mean terminal half-lives were 2.9-3.1 h. The mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curves ranged between 18 and 26 mg/l.h; 18-24% of the dose administered were recovered unchanged in the urine. The best bioavailability was obtained with the dry suspension followed by the tablet and the syrup. With respect to the ester pro-drug cephalosporins, cefuroxime axetil, cefetamet pivoxyl and cefotiam hexetil, cefixime exhibits higher plasma half-life and area under the curve as well as, comparable absolute bioavailability but consistently lower urinary recovery which indicates higher non-renal clearance.