title: A study of the in vitro interaction between ethanol, and triazolam and its two metabolites using human liver microsomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Triazolam is widely used as an ultrashort-acting anxiolytic drug and hypnosedatives and its effect appears at very low doses. Ethanol is used as a social drug worldwide. Sometimes, toxic interactions occur following combined administration of these two drugs. In this study, we have investigated the interaction between alcohol and triazolam in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The interaction effects between alcohol and triazolam were examined by a mixed-function oxidation reaction using a human liver microsomal preparation. Triazolam and its two metabolites (alpha-hydroxytriazolam: alpha-OH triazolam, 4-hydroxytriazolam: 4-OH triazolam) were measured by HPLC/UV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The production of alpha-OH triazolam and 4-OH triazolam was shown to be weakly inhibited by 13-29% (p < 0.05) and 8-14%,respectively, by ethanol (20-80 mM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results using a human liver microsomal preparation show that the formation of both metabolites of triazolam is weakly inhibited by ethanol. Toxic levels may be reached by simultaneous administration of ethanol and triazolam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan. einosuke@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Einosuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinozuka
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D014229:Triazolam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D014229:Triazolam; D000431:Ethanol