BARBITURATES IN LOCAL ANESTHETIC TOXICITY

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology of Howard University, School of Medicine, Washington, D. C.

Part I. The prophylactic action of nembutal in acute intoxication from local anesthetics systemically absorbed is presented.

The local anesthetics employed were butyn, procaine, cocaine and alypin.

Under the conditions of my experiments, the best results were obtained in the cocaine series.

The primary problem in effecting prophylaxis with nembutal is the proper regulation of dosage.

Part II. The results of a study of the comparative antidotal efficiency of typical barbiturates in acute cocaine poisoning are presented.

For doses at (or below) the m.l.d., any of the barbiturates would be effective; but the more toxic compounds give the best results because of their speed of action.

The long-acting barbiturates with low toxicities are poor antidotes for large doses of cocaine, principally because of their low toxicity

Based on the percentage of recoveries from a 150 mgm. per kilogram dose of cocaine, dial and nembutal were most effective.

Based on the percentage of recoveries from a 200 mgm. per kilogram dose of cocaine, dial and pernocton were most effective.

A barbiturate combining the properties of high toxicity with a relatively long duration of action best meets the condition of an ideal antidote for severe cocaine intoxication.

Clinical investigations along these lines are recommended.