The influence of chronic ethanol consumption on the distribution of thiopental in rats.
Ethanol was administered chronically for 14 days to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Day 15 was ethanol-free. On day 16 the rats received 25 mg of thiopental per kilogram (intravenously). One minute after the injection, the ethanol-treated rats showed lower blood levels of thiopental and higher liver levels of the drug than control rats given sucrose in place of ethanol. Samples of blood drawn 5 and 10 min after injection showed no significant difference in thiopental levels between the ethanol and control groups. The ethanol-treated group slept for a significantly shorter period of time. It is concluded that chronic ethanol consumption for 14 days decreases the pharmacological effects of thiopental and alters its initial distribution in the body.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D013874:Thiopental / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D000431:Ethanol; D013874:Thiopental