[Mechanism of the anti-alcohol action of fenazepam]

Experiments were performed on 64 albino male rats selected according to their ethanol preference. A long-term administration of ethanol produced a number of specific changes in the activity of the enzymes involved in metabolism of ethanol, lipid peroxidation, enzymes of metabolism of xenobiotics. At the continuous ethanol administration, phenazepam was found to normalize the activity of ethanol-metabolizing enzymes, both in vivo and in vitro. Phenazepam also normalized reaction of lipid peroxidation both in vivo and in vitro. The drug was shown to be an inductor with respect to enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism.