Effect of ciprofloxacin on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous lidocaine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme 1A2 has an important role in lidocaine biotransformation. We have studied the effect of a cytochrome P-450 1A2 inhibitor, ciprofloxacin, on the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study, nine healthy volunteers ingested for 2.5 days 500 mg oral ciprofloxacin or placebo twice daily. On day 3, they received a single dose of 1.5 mg kg[-1] lidocaine intravenously over 60 min. Plasma concentrations of lidocaine, 3-hydroxylidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide were determined for 11 h after the start of the lidocaine infusion. RESULTS: Ciprofloxacin increased the mean peak concentration and area under plasma concentration-time curve of lidocaine by 12% (range [-6] to+46%; P<0.05) and 26% (8--59%; P 0.01), respectively. The mean plasma clearance of lidocaine was decreased by ciprofloxacin by 22% (7--38%; P<0.01). Ciprofloxacin decreased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of monoethylglycinexylidide by 21% (P<0.01) and that of 3-hydroxylidocaine by 14% (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: The plasma decay of intravenously administered lidocaine is modestly delayed by concomitantly administered ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin may increase the systemic toxicity of lidocaine.