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OPRA Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics QUESTION #3838
Question 1
Why is lignocaine (lidocaine) not suitable for oral systemic administration?
  • It is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract
  • It undergoes significant first-pass metabolism in the liver✔️
  • It is decomposed by gastric acid
  • It binds to mucoproteins in the intestine
Correct Answer Explanation
Lignocaine is well absorbed from the GI tract but undergoes very high first-pass hepatic metabolism ($>70\%$), reducing oral bioavailability to clinically ineffective levels.