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INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AMPHETAMINE AND ALCOHOL AND THEIR EFFECT ON RODENT BEHAVIOR *
Author(s) -
Rech R. H.,
Vomachka M. K.,
Rickert D.,
Braude M. C.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1976.tb27950.x
Subject(s) - drugs of abuse , library science , medicine , gerontology , psychiatry , drug , computer science
Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants of the amphetamine type have generally been understood to antagonize the central depressant actions of alcohol, barbiturates, and other agents in the broad category of the CNS depressants. Indeed, stimulant drugs such as d-amphetamine have had trial as analeptics in the treatment of overdose with CNS depressants.' On the other hand, it seems clear that certain of the effects of d-amphetamine are not appreciably reduced by the concomitant administration of a CNS depressant. Thus, the rationale for combining d-amphetamine and amobarbital (Dexamyl) in the treatment of obesity is to reduce the insomnia and restlessness of the stimulant without appreciably interfering with the anorexic effect of amphetamine.2 However, relatively few experimental studies have been attempted to document the interactions between these stimulants and depre~sants .~-~ These previous efforts have used a variety of biological responses to characterize the interactions of only one or two combinations and have usually examined effects over a narrow dose range. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interactions of sympathomimetic stimulants with several examples of the CNS depressants. The biological response that was chosen for comparison of these interactions was rotarod performance. This test has the advantages of simplicity and efficiency, and yet it appears to be a reasonable measure of alertness and motor coordination in rodents.9-12