The effect of infinitesimal drug dilutions on the pharmacokinetics of nalidixic acid and atenolol.

1. Ten healthy subjects received two treatments: a single 1 g oral dose of nalidixic acid (NA) followed 1 h later by either an infinitesimal dilution of the drug (NA 7CH) or by succussed water which served as placebo. The study was repeated 18 months later in 10 different subjects. 2. A further 10 healthy subjects received three treatments: a single 100 mg oral dose of atenolol (AT) followed 3 h later by either placebo or a dilution of AT (AT 7CH) or of bisoprolol (BI 7CH). The homoeopathic preparations were administered by the sublingual route. 3. In the first NA experiment NA 7CH significantly shortened the elimination half-life of NA from 8.6 +/- 2.2 (placebo) to 6.4 +/- 1.6 h (NA 7CH). In the second NA experiment none of the pharmacokinetic parameters was modified significantly by the administration of NA 7CH. Neither AT 7CH nor BI 7CH modified the pharmacokinetics of AT.