Nimodipine's interactions with other drugs: II. Diazepam

Adult Binghamton Heterogeneous (HET) stock mice were administered one of three doses of diazepam (0.1, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg) immediately followed by a second injection of either the slow calcium channel blocker, nimodipine (Bay e 9736), or its vehicle. Hypothermic responses and muscular incoordination were measured twenty and sixty minutes later as assessed by changes in rectal temperature and motoric activity on a rotating rod. Nimodipine (5 mg/kg) alone did not significantly affect body temperature or motor coordination. However, when administered in combination with the two highest doses of diazepam, nimodipine significantly potentiated the hypothermic response produced by these doses both twenty minutes and sixty minutes post-injection. Administration of high doses of diazepam (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) resulted in significant motor incoordination at both observation periods, but this effect was not potentiated by nimodipine.