STUDIES ON THE BARBITAL-TYPE PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE LIABILITY OF MEQUITAZINE IN MICE AND RATS

Abstract

Mequitazine is a new phenothiazine derivative with potent antihistaminic activity developed by Pharmuka, Co. Ltd., in France. Although the action of this drug on central nervous system is reported to be very weak in the dose range used as antihistaminics, the CNS action cannot be neglected when the huge amount is applied. In order to predict the safety use of this drug in clinical therapy the ability to develop barbital-type physical dependence was investigated. In conclusion, a single dose suppression test and substitution test in barbital dependent mice, and also the primary dependence liability test after repeated administration of the drug in rats revealed that Mequitazine has no physical dependence liability even in the toxic dose.