Chlordiazepoxide (librium) has been regarded as potent anti-anxiety drug and led to its introduction as an antianxiety drug.
Medazepam (nobrium) is a relatively new benzodiazepine, chemically very similar to chlordiazepoxide. In recent years it has been made available for use in Europe, where it seems to be utilized for the treatment of anxiety.
In 1960, Khouw et al. reported that chlorpromazine elevated the blood alcohol level in horse by the inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in liver. Other investigators have also been lately reported that lithium and several psychotropic drugs elevated the blood alcohol level in rabbits. In view of this findings, the author conducted an animal experiment to investigate the effects of medezepam on blood alcohol level in rabbits.
Material and Methods
1. The experimental work was done with mature rabbits of both sexes, weighing between 2.0kg and 3.0kg.
2. The experimental animals were divided into two groups: control and experimental group. Control group was given alcohol alone, and experimental group was given alcohol alone, and experimental group was further divided into two subgroups: 1) alcohol+chlordiazepoxide group 2) alcohol+medazepam group.
3. Chlordiazepoxide was given orally, in a dose of 40mg; kg of body weight, daily. for five days. The last one was given 90 minutes before alcohol administration.
4. Medazepam was also given orally, in a dose of 40mg/ kg of body weight, daily for five days. The last one was given 90 minutes before alcohol administration.
5. In all groups, 20 vol. % ethanol solution was given in a dose of of 5.Oml/kg of body weight, at a constant rate for five minutes, by intravenous route.
6. All of the blood specimens were obtained by cardiac puncture at 15 and 45 minutes respectively after alcohol administration.
7. The blood alcohol level was determined by
Cavett´s method.
Result
1. Alcohol +Chlordiazepoxide group
Chlordiazepoxide failed to elevate the blood alcohol level at both 15 (P>. 10) and 45 minutes (P >. 05) after alcohol administration.
2. Alcohol+Medazepam group Medazepam elevated the blood alcohol +45minutes (P<. 01) but not at 15 minutes (P>10).
Conclusion
1. The orally administed chlordiazepoxide, in a dose of 40mg/kg/day, for five days, elevated the blood alcohol level in rabbits at both 15 and 45 minutes after alcohol administration, but they were not statistically significant.
2. The orally administered medazepam in adose of 40mg/kg/day, for five days, elevated the blood alcohol level in rabbits at both 15 and 45 minutes after alcohol administration, but the result at 15 minutes was not statistically significant.
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