1 The effect of phenobarbitone on the single dose pharmacokinetics of the synthetic steroids, ethinyloestradiol (EE2) and norethisterone, has been studied in the rabbit and rat. 2 EE2 is subject to an extensive first pass effect (96%). The plasma clearance of EE2 approaches total hepatic blood flow. It is suggested that a secondary peak in EE2 plasma concentration time curves at 5 h is due to enterohepatic recycling. Phenobarbitone had no effect on plasma EE2 concentrations following intravenous administration and produced a variable decrease after oral administration. 3 In phenobarbitone-treated rabbits, following intravenous administration of norethisterone there was no significant change in the area under the curve (AUC) compared to controls. In contrast, following oral administration of norethisterone to treated rabbits, the AUC was 20% and the peak plasma concentration 17% of that in controls. 4 The data in rabbits are consistent with drugs which are highly extracted by the liver. 5 In rats, phenobarbitone had no effect on plasma norethisterone concentrations following intravenous or hepatic portal (bolus) administration, but caused a decrease in systemic availability after both infusion into the portal vein (over a period of 5 min) and oral administration. 6 It is concluded that the rate of delivery of norethisterone to the liver is important in determining whether or not enzyme induction will cause an increased first pass effect. 7 Phenobarbitone caused an increase in conjugation of norethisterone in the gastrointestinal tract of rats.