[Risk of psychotropic drug potentiation by dipropylacetamide (16 cases)]

We report 16 cases in which there is a dangerous potentialization of psychotropic drugs with dipropylacetamide, and compare them with 19 cases possible to control, that dipropylacetamide used alone, or in another association, was well tolerated. We pointed out the importance of a depressive evolution, and of dangerous associations, mainly with tricyclic compounds, lorazepam and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Clinical signs are described; they consist in a fast evolutive syndrome, which is the same that "syndrome malin of psychotrops" with neurovegetative signs and central fever, or ingravescent wakefulness disorders and spasmodic cerebellar signs. The importance for the diagnosis and the prognosis of E.E.G. data is pointed out; plasma levels determination does not seem to give important data. Drugs interactions studies are very important in the clinical evaluation of psychotrops. Several drugs may interact with dipropylacetamide. This fact sustains some hypothesises about the action site of the drug.