A composition for enhancing absorption of a pharmaceutical which may have poor oral
bioavailability, which composition has surprisingly little
cytotoxicity, is provided which is in the form of a liquid or semi-
solid or
solid containing an admixture (1) a mucoadhesive
polymer which is a
polyacrylic acid polymer, preferably Carbopol 971P, and (2) an absorption or
permeation enhancer which preferably is L-α-
lyso-
phosphatidylcholine (LPC), and which composition is free of polysaccharides. A method for improving
bioavailability of a
drug which has poor absorption properties is also provided wherein the above
bioadhesive composition is administered with said pharmaceutical to the mucosal membrane of the GI tract,
nose,
oral cavity, sublingual, buccal, and
vaginal mucosa. A method for reducing the cytotoxic effect of an absorption
enhancer such as LPC is also provided wherein a mucoadhesive
polymer as described above is administered with the LPC to a patient in need of treatment.