In a double-blind, randomised, three-way cross-over study, eight healthy vo
lunteers ingested daily for 4 days either 250 mg clarithromycin twice daily
, 200 mg itraconazole once daily, or placebo. On day 4, each subject receiv
ed a single dose of 0.6 mg kg(-l) ropivacaine intravenously over 30 min. Ro
pivacaine and (S)-2',6'-pipecoloxylidide in venous plasma and urine samples
were measured for up to 12 hours and 24 hours, respectively. There were no
significant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the parent ropiva
caine after ingestion of clarithromycin or itraconazole. However, the peak
plasma concentration and AUC of (S)-2',6'-pipecoloxylidide metabolite were
significantly decreased in both the clarithromycin and itraconazole phases,
compared with the placebo phase. The fraction of ropivacaine metabolised t
o (S)-2',6'-pipecoloxylidide excreted in urine was decreased in the itracon
azole phase. Both clarithromycin and itraconazole inhibit the CYP3A4 mediat
ed formation of (S)-2',6'-pipecoloxylidide from ropivacaine. With the doses
used, itraconazole is a stronger inhibitor than clarithromycin. The intera
ction of clarithromycin with ropivacaine seems to be dose (concentration)-d
ependent.