The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of drotaverine was studied in 10 healthy volunteers after administration of single 80 mg oral and intravenous doses of the HCl salt of the drug, in a crossover fashion. Plasma and urine samples were analyzed for the unchanged drug by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters, such as elimination half-life, plasma clearance, renal clearance and apparent volume of distribution, were not influenced by the route of drug administration. The drug was mainly eliminated by non-renal routes since renal clearance accounted for only 0.31 +/- 0.13% of the total plasma clearance. The absolute bioavailability was variable and ranged from 24.5-91% with a mean of 58.2 +/- 18.2% (mean +/- SD). It is suggested that the high variation in the bioavailability of drotaverine HCl after oral administration may result in significant interindividual differences in therapeutic response.