An osmotically-powered rectal drug delivery system, was used for the rectal infusion of the model drug antipyrine. The system, which is slightly larger than a normal suppository, has a nominal pumping rate of 43 microliter h-1 over at least 30 h. Four healthy volunteers kept two such systems in their rectum for a sum total of 98 h. Saliva and plasma concentrations were determined at regular intervals and in all cases a very constant steady-state saliva and plasma concentration was reached and maintained. Defecation and reinsertion of the drug delivery system did not cause any irregularities in the concentration profile. The system was very well tolerated by the volunteers.