[Interactions between hypnotics and psychotropics. Various aspects of experimental pharmacology]

Fourteen french pharmacologists working for the pharmaceutical industry were asked about the tests they used for the primary screening and the study of hypnotic drugs. They were also asked about the tests using interactions between hypnotics and the studied drugs, either psychotropic or not. The results of survey are presented. A systematic study was performed concerning the interaction of psychotropic drugs with either barbital or pentobarbital in mice. The utilization of these two tests is useful for the research of possible inductory or inhibitory effect on hepatic enzymatic systems. For a complete study of drugs with a profile of psychostimulant or antidepressant.