We have studied the effect of glycopyrronium on the anaesthetic action and absorption of topical lignocaine in 10 healthy, non-smoking volunteers. Lignocaine 100 mg was sprayed on the oral mucosa 15 min after random administration of glycopyrronium 4 micrograms kg-1 or normal saline i.v. Glycopyrronium decreased the mean analgesia score from 2 to 0.1 (2 = baseline; 0 = anaesthesia) at 4 min compared with a change from 2 to 0.5 after normal saline (P < 0.05). All scores returned to baseline by 40 min and 20 min in the glycopyrronium and control groups, respectively. The mean (SD) peak plasma lignocaine concentration was 0.57 (0.29) microgram ml-1 after glycopyrronium and 0.31 (0.10) microgram ml-1 after saline (P < 0.05) and were attained in 17 min (range 10-40 min) and 29 min (range 8-40 min), respectively. Pretreatment with glycopyrronium enhanced absorption and prolonged the analgesic action of topically administered lignocaine.