Effects of phenobarbital on ethanol intake in fluid deprived rats

Every third day animals were offered either 3 or 7 percent ethanol in place of water during the 1 hr drinking session. Three doses of sodium phenobarbital were administered subcutaneously to 3 groups of animals - 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg. Results indicate that the drug indreases ethavol consumption following the injection but decreases consumption of ethanol on subsequent postdrug days. There was an attenuation in these effects from the first to the third injection. Although a dose effect was not determined, changes in ethanol consumption were greater with the higher concentrations.