Barbiturate poisoning and gastrointestinal propulsion.
Anaesthetic doses of pentobarbitone (50 mg/kg) were found to inhibit gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in the rat. Gastric emptying was more profoundly suppressed than gastrointestinal transit. Phenobarbitone (150 mg/kg) had a similar effect. Since pentobarbitone and phenobarbitone also blocked the peristaltic reflex in the isolated small intestine of the guinea-pig, it would appear that the inhibitory effect of anaesthetic doses of barbiturates on gastrointestinal motility is mainly due to a direct action on the digestive tract. Together with the observation that considerable amounts of phenobarbitone were found in the stomach of an intoxicated patient 3 days after drug intake, these results might indicate that gastric lavage should also be considered in the treatment of protracted barbiturate poisoning.
Holzer
P
P
Institut für experimentelle und klinische Pharmakologie, Universität Graz, Austria.
Beubler
E
E
Dirnhofer
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000633:toxicity; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001463:Barbiturates; D010424:Pentobarbital; D010634:Phenobarbital