Effect of rifampicin on metoprolol and antipyrine kinetics.

1 Effects of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics of single oral doses of metoprolol and antipyrine are reported. 2 Rifampicin, administered daily for 15 days, reduced the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of metoprolol but the rate constant for elimination (beta) of metoprolol from plasma did not alter significantly. 3 Administration of rifampicin for 13 days reduced AUC and increased beta of antipyrine. Thirteen days after discontinuing rifampicin. AUC and beta of antipyrine remained significantly different from the initial values. 4 Some loss of beta-adrenoceptor blockade should be anticipated if rifampicin is administered to patients who are receiving metoprolol.