Increased Meprobamate Activities and Inhibition of its Metabolism

Abstract

An increased duration of sleeping time and paralysis by meprobamate were observed after pretreatment with some inhibitors of monoamine oxidase, and at the same time an inhibition of meprobamate metabolism in vivo was demonstrated. The inhibition of meprobamate metabolism was at maximum 30 minutes after the administration of Marsilid (iproniazid). The hydrazine group was considered as responsible for the inhibition of metabolism, as trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine (SKF 385), which has no hydrazine group, did not inhibit the in vivo metabolism of meprobamate. A similar inhibition was also observed in the in vitro experiments. It is assumed that the effect on meprobamate metabolism of the used drugs is not specifically related to the monoaminoxidase inhibition but to an effect on the liver microsome oxidating enzymes.