The effect of food on the rate and extent of bioavailability of bromazepam was examined in seven normal volunteers following a single oral dose of 10 mg bromazepam with 200 ml of water in the fasting and non-fasting states. Plasma concentrations of bromazepam were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. A tmax value in a non-fasting state was prolonged from 2.3 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 2.8 +/- 0.6 h but not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) whereas a Cmax value was significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased from 259 +/- 12.7 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 169 +/- 13.9 ng/ml. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve in the non-fasting state was also significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased from 1844 +/- 145 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 1233 +/- 98.1 ng.h/ml after oral administration of bromazepam.