title: N-desmethyldiazepam physical dependence in dogs.
abstract: Dogs, surgically implanted with a chronic gastric fistula, were chronically dosed with N-desmethyldiazepam (32 mg/kg/day) in four divided doses to attain N-desmethyldiazepam plasma levels comparable to those observed in dogs dependent on diazepam (60 mg/kg/day). The time course of N-desmethyldiazepam abstinence was studied, beginning not less than 2 weeks after stabilization levels had been achieved. The abstinence syndrome observed after abrupt discontinuation of N-desmethyldiazepam was similar to the diazepam abstinence syndrome but differed in several important aspects. In diazepam-dependent dogs, there was a short burst of tremor very early in withdrawal (approximately 1-2 hr after the last dose of diazepam) that was not seen in N-desmethyldiazepam-dependent dogs. Signs of abstinence such as tremor, hot foot walking and twitches and jerks were more frequently observed in N-desmethyldiazepam-dependent dogs than in diazepam-dependent dogs as were decreases in food and water intake and in body weight. The overall intensity of abstinence, as measured by the Diazepam Withdrawal Abstinence Scale, was greater in N-desmethyldiazepam-dependent dogs than in dogs dependent on either lorazepam or diazepam. Plasma levels of N-desmethyldiazepam and oxazepam were nearly equal in dogs dependent on diazepam or on N-desmethyldiazepam and were 4 to 10 times greater than the plasma levels of diazepam or lorazepam in diazepam- or lorazepam-dependent dogs, respectively. Furthermore, the plasma levels of N-desmethyldiazepam and oxazepam declined much more slowly than the levels of diazepam and lorazepam. These results suggest that physical dependence on diazepam is caused by the accumulation and actions of N-desmethyldiazepam.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000139:chemically induced; D003708:Nordazepam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013693:Temazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003708:Nordazepam; D010076:Oxazepam; D013693:Temazepam; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam