The effect of the H2 receptor antagonists cimetidine and ranitidine on bupivacaine clearance was assessed in women scheduled to undergo elective Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. Thirty-six women were randomly allocated to receive either no medication, cimetidine 400 mg or ranitidine 150 mg on the night prior to and on the morning of surgery. No significant difference was found between the peak bupivacaine levels: the mean (SD) values were 0.74 (0.17) microgram/ml, 0.81 (0.38) microgram/ml and 0.70 (0.24) microgram/ml in the control, cimetidine and ranitidine groups, respectively. Similarly, the H2 receptor antagonists did not alter the plasma bupivacaine against time curves, half-life or bupivacaine clearance in the three groups studied.