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1 Paracetamol elimination was measured, using serial saliva samples, in 114 London factory and office workers, 76 Whites and 38 Asian immigrants. 2 Use of social drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and the oral contraceptive varied considerably within the sample, being appreciably greater in White subjects. 3 Paracetamol clearance was 21% slower in Asians than in Whites and half-life 18% longer. The total range of clearance was 1.86-6.78 ml min-1 kg-1. 4 Clearance was slower in women than in men, increased with increasing alcohol intake and cigarette consumption, and was more rapid in those women using the oral contraceptive. The effects of alcohol and the oral contraceptive were also found in White subjects alone. 5 The variables found to correlate independently with paracetamol clearance accounted for only 27% of the total sample variance, however, and are unlikely to be the major determinants of paracetamol elimination in man.

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1 Pharmacokinetic and concentration‐effect studies have been carried out following intravenous injection of 10 mg metoclopramide hydrochloride to seven normal male volunteers. 2 It is proposed that a two‐compartment model adequately describes the disposition of the drug which is rapidly distributed (T1/2alpha = 4.9 +/‐ 1.1 min) and eliminated (T1/2beta = 165.7 +/‐ 20.2 min). Total body plasma clearance of the drug is high (10.9 +/‐ 1.5 ml min‐1 kg‐1) and approximates to liver plasma flow. 3 Metoclopramide i.v. increases gastric emptying as measured by an ethanol absorption test (P less than 0.005). The duration of this effect is at least 3 h. 4 Ethanol given after i.v. metoclopramide administration produces significant sedation during the first hour and at 3 h (P less than 0.001). 5 The effect of metoclopramide on gastric emptying, and the degree of sedation induced by ethanol would appear to be related to plasma metoclopramide concentration. 6 Metoclopramide increases serum prolactin to 59 +/‐ 5.8 microgram/1 at 30 min after injection. There is a linear relationship (r = 0.809) between serum prolactin increase and plasma metoclopramide concentration.