NO INFLUENCE OF CIPROFLOXACIN ON ETHANOL DISPOSITION - A PHARMACOKINETIC-PHARMACODYNAMIC INTERACTION STUDY

The influence of pretreatment with a three day course of ciprofloxacin (500 mg twice daily) on a single oral dose of ethanol (30 g) was inve stigated in 12 healthy male volunteers in a double blind placebo contr olled study. Pretreatment with ciprofloxacin was shown to have no sign ificant effect on ethanol AUC (736 mg.l(-1) h placebo; 734 mg.l(-1) h ciprofloxacin), C-max (466 mg.l(-1) placebo; 483 mg.l(-1) ciprofloxaci n) t(max) (0.6 h placebo; 0.5 h ciprofloxacin) or the elimination rate (134 mg.l(-1) h(-1) placebo; 133 mg.l(-1) h(-1) ciprofloxacin). The e ffect of ciprofloxacin on ethanol pharmacodynamics was measured by the use of psychomotor tests, such as the critical flicker fusion thresho ld, choice reaction time, pursuit rotor, tapping rate, digit symbol su bstitution and digit span. Subjective feelings of concentration, vigil ance and relaxation were also measured using visual analogue scales. P retreatment with ciprofloxacin was found to have no significant effect on any of these tests, compared to placebo.