A combination drug therapy (Poly-5: ibuprofen 12.5 mg/kg, methylprednisolone 30 mg/kg, cimetidine 150 mg, diphenhydramine 10 mg/kg, and ketanserin 0.2 mg/kg) given at 20 and 120 minutes after starting continuous intravenous Pseudomonas (Ps, 5 X 10(8) CFU/20 kg/min) was studied in three groups of swine: saline control (C, n = 9), Ps alone (Ps, n = 8), and Ps plus Poly-5 (n = 5). PaO2, systemic (SAP) and pulmonary arterial (PAP) pressures, cardiac index (CI), thermal-cardiogreen extravascular lung water (EVLW), pulmonary albumin flux (slope index, SI), and arterial blood serotonin levels (5-HT) were measured. Ps produced significant (p less than 0.05) increases in PAP, EVLW, and SI with decreases in PaO2, CI, and SAP. 5-HT fell significantly compared to baseline. Poly-5 prevented (p less than 0.05) the rise in EVLW and SI and the fall in PaO2 and CI compared to Ps. PAP and SI were maintained at C until 90 and 150 minutes, respectively. SAP fell significantly from C at 30, 60, and 180 minutes. 5-HT was significantly lower than Ps throughout, and significantly lower than baseline at 180 minutes. Combined blockade of arachidonic acid metabolites, histamine, and serotonin receptors prevented hypoxemia, increased pulmonary capillary permeability, and cardiovascular deterioration in this porcine septic ARDS model.