1. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of quinidine and 3-hydroxyquinidine based upon measurements of total and unbound serum concentrations were determined after a single dose (400 mg) and at steady state (200 mg every 6 h). 2. The oral clearance (7.6 +/- 1.9 vs 4.8 +/- 2.0 ml min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.05) and renal clearance (1.2 +/- 0.3 vs 0.63 +/- 0.25 ml min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.005) or quinidine were lower during steady state than after the single dose. 3. The area under the serum concentration vs time curve (AUC) of 3-hydroxyquinidine was greater at steady state than after the single dose (2.0 +/- 0.7 vs 3.0 +/- 0.6 mg l-1 h; P less than 0.05) and its renal clearance was less (3.0 +/- 1.1 vs 1.54 +/- 0.38 ml min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.05). 4. The slope of the relationship between quinidine concentration and change in QTc interval was greater at steady state (40.1 +/- 21.7 vs 72.2 +/- 41.7 ms/(mg l-1); P less than 0.05).