Interaction of glutethimide and phenobarbitone with ethanol in man

Abstract

Interactions of ethanol with glutethimide and phenobarbitone in man were examined by means of psychomotor tests and measurement of ethanol and glutethimide in body fluids. Blood ethanol was about 11% higher overall when glutethimide and ethanol were given than in controls given ethanol alone, and 30% higher at 105 and 135 min. When phenobarbitone and ethanol were given there was a slight but significant reduction in blood ethanol. In the presence of ethanol there was a fall in plasma and urinary glutethimide. Changes in blood ethanol were reflected by changes in reaction time tests. Changes in plasma glutethimide were reflected by changes in tracking efficiency and finger tapping speed. These studies illustrate the need to assess drug concentrations in other interaction studies with ethanol and depressant drugs.