Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam, synthesized by Sternach, are the first two psychotropic agents in the benzodiazepine derivatives which had potent taming effect, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant action in animals. Also it has definite psychosedative effects in human.
Consequently it has been used as an antianxiety drug and given, among others, alcoholism, a variety of psychoneurotic disturbances and psychosomatic disorders. Cloxazolam is one of the newer benzodiazepines.
It has been reported that chlorpromazine, lithium and several other psychotropic drugs elevated the blood alcohol level in rabbits. In view of these findings, the author conducted an animal experiment to investigate the effect of chlordiazepoxide and cloxazolam on blood alcohol level in rabbits.
Materials and Method
1. The experimental work was done on mature
rabbits of both sexes, weighing between 1. 7 and 2.2kg.
2. The experiment was done in 2 groups: control and experimental group.
3. Control group was given alcohol alone, and experimental group was further devided into two groups: alcohol+chlordiazepoxide group and alcohol +cloxazolam group.
4. In all groups, 20 vol. % ethanol solution was given in a dose of 5.0 ml/kg of body weight, at a constant rate for 5 minutes, by intravenous route.
5. Chlordiazepoxide and cloxazolam were given orally. Chlordiazepoxide was given 40 mg/kg of body weight and cloxazolam, 4mg/kg of body weight daily for 5 days respectively. The last dose of chlordiazepoxide and cloxazolam was given 60 minutes before alcohol administration.
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 datermined by Cavett´s method.
Results
1. Alcohol+Chlordiazepoxide group
Chlordiazepoxide showed statistically no significant change in blood alcohol level (P>.05).
2. Alcohol+Cloxazolam group
Cloxazolam elevated the blood alcohol level significantly at both 15 and 45 minutes after alcohol administration (P<. 001).
Conclusions
1. The orally administered chlordiazepoxide, in a dose of 40 mg/kg, for 5 days had no significant effect on blood alcohol level in rabbits.
2. The orally administered cloxazolam, in a dose of 4mg/kg, for 5 days elevated significantly the blood alcohol level in rabbits at both 15 and 45 minutes after alcohol administration.
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