New method for detecting and quantitating pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions applied to ethanol-propranolol

A novel method for detecting and quantitating pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions is described. The method involves perturbation of an existing steady-state whole blood (or plasma) concentration of one drug by the other drug. The method would allow differentiation of "pharmacokinetic" drug interactions from "pharmacologic" interactions. It is shown that a bolus intravenous injection of propranolol reduced a steady-state arterial blood concentration of ethyl alcohol by 26% in the cat.