Loteprednol etabonate (LE) is an orally active "soft" steroid belonging to a unique class of glucocorticoids. Loteprednol etabonate (LE) exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and has been used in optometry and ophthalmology[1][2][3].
Intravenous administration of Loteprednol etabonate (5 mg/kg) to dogs reveals a terminal half-life of 2.8 h, a volume of distribution of 3.7 L/kg, and a total body clearance of 0.9 L/h/kg. Intact loteprednol etabonate was not detectable in the urine. After oral administration of the drug (5 mg/kg) to dogs, only metabolites, but no intact drug, were found in the plasma, an indication for a high first-pass effect.
References:
[1]. Noble S, Goa KL. Loteprednol etabonate: clinical potential in the management of ocular inflammation. BioDrugs. 1998 Oct;10(4):329-39.
[2]. Szelenyi I, Hochhaus G, Heer S et al. Loteprednol etabonate: a soft steroid for the treatment of allergic diseases of the airways. Drugs Today (Barc). 2000 May;36(5):313-20.
[3]. Howes JF. Loteprednol etabonate: a review of ophthalmic clinical studies. Pharmazie. 2000 Mar;55(3):178-83.
[4]. Pavesio CE, Decory HH. Treatment of ocular inflammatory conditions with loteprednol etabonate. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008 Apr;92(4):455-9.
[5]. Comstock TL, Decory HH. Advances in corticosteroid therapy for ocular inflammation: loteprednol etabonate. Int J Inflam. 2012;2012:789623.