HYPNOTIC ACTION OF 5,5-DIALKYL-2,4-OXAZOLIDINEDIONES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO 5,5-DI-n-PROPYL-2,4-OXAZOLIDINEDIONE

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

A series of new chemical compounds, the 5,5-dialkyl-2,4-oxazolidinediones, has been presented which exhibits hypnotic action. Their relative anesthetic activity in white mice has been evaluated. The anesthesia produced was usually of brief duration with rapid recovery.

5,5-Di-n-propyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione has been given intravenously, orally and by rectum to a series of animals in varying doses over different periods of time. All degrees of anesthesia and hypnosis have been produced by this substance. On the intravenous administration of full anesthetic doses to dogs, the period of anesthesia was relatively short, but was followed by a period of hypnosis which might last for 60 or 70 hours. A careful study of the reaction of the animals to this substance has been made and no contraindications to its trial in man have thus far been discovered. It has been given to a small series of patients without ill-effects and appears to deserve further clinical trial.