Jane Telford

Studies of analgesic drugs

Several investigators have shown that some narcotic antagonists are potent analgesics in man, and suggested that a clinically useful nonaddicting potent analgesic could he found among the narcotic antagonists. Since these compounds are respiratory depressants as well, concern has been expressed that the use of narcotic antagonists as analgesics would be handicapped by the lack of an antagonist to its toxic effects, especially respiratory depression. This study was undertaken to demonstrate that a nonspecific analeptic could antagonize the respiratory depression induced by a narcotic antagonist. The respiratory depressant effects of pentazocine, a weak narcotic antagonist which is a potent nanaddicting analgesic in man, was used as the test object. Methylphenidate (30 mg. per 70 Kg. intravenously) significantly antagonized the respiratory depression of pentazocine (40 mg. per 70 Kg. intramuscularly) compared to a placebo in a complete crossover study of six healthy subjects. Antagonism was incomplete at 30 minutes but almost complete at 75 minutes after methylphenidate.

Effect of Chronic Administration of Mercurial Diuretics on Glomerular Filtration in the Dog.

Summary Mercurial diuretics administered intravenously in chronic dosage to dogs reduced the glomerular nitration rate as measured by the creatinine clearance. This reduction in glomerular filtration rate was found to be temporary in most dogs that did not have severe symptoms of mercury poisoning. Thiomerin, when administered intravenously in comparable chronic dosage to the dog, was found to be of higher toxicity than either Mercuhydrin or Merthyl, as indicated by reduced creatinine clearances, and other signs of mercury poisoning.

Xanthine and Mercurial Diuretics and Renal Tubular Transport of Glucose and P-aminohippurate in the Dog.∗:

Summary Mercuhydrin, salyrgan and theophyllin, in diuretic doses, do not interfere with the renal tubular transfer of glucose or p-aminohippurate in the dog.