Drug interactions with ethanol. Effects on body temperature and motor impairment

Single doses of d-amphetamine, chlorpheniramine or diazepam were combined with ethanol under two conditions: (i) in drug-naive mice and (ii) in mice which had been given a single dose of ethanol 72 hr previously. Ethanol was administered orally at doses of 6.0, 3.0 or 1.5 g/kg; doses of d-amphetamine, chlorpheniramine or diazepam were given intraperitoneally. Three parameters were measured; changes in rectal temperature, forced motor coordination, as evaluated by rotarod performance and concentrations of ethanol in blood. d-Amphetamine and chlorpheniramine attenuated the hypothermia induced by ethanol but had no effect on the motor-impairing effect of ethanol. Hypothermia induced by diazepam was unaffected by ethanol, but the combination appeared to impair maximally rotarod performance. Concentrations of ethanol in blood did not differ between ethanol-naive mice and mice which had received the same dose of ethanol 72 hr previously. Changes in body temperature and intoxication have been attributed to central actions of ethanol; however, the differential results obtained from the interactions between these drugs suggest differing sensitivities of the various systems which are affected by ethanol.