Failure of amantadine and bromocriptine to counteract alcoholic inebriation in man

Oral amantadine 100 mg and bromocriptine 2.5 + 2.5 mg, alone and in combination with ethanol (1 g/kg), were investigated in two placebo-controlled, double-blind and cross-over trials. In the first trial the psychomotor effects of amantadine and bromocriptine were compared to those of placebo, and in the second trial ethanol was added to the treatment. Bromocriptine lowered serum prolactin levels, thus confirming its absorption. Amantadine and bromocriptine alone had no psychomotor effects but unpleasant sensations, nausea and dizziness were reported after bromocriptine. Ethanol impaired performance in terms of impaired coordinative and reactive skills, lowered tapping speed, prolonged critical flicker interval and reduced gaze nystagmus angle (P less than 0.05 to 0.001; two-way ANOVA). Subjectively, ethanol induced mental slowness, clumsiness and impairment of performance (P less than 0.05 to 0.001). Amantadine and bromocriptine failed to counteract any of these ethanol-induced changes. It is concluded that in man, an acute dopaminergic activation by amantadine or bromocriptine does not significantly modify the psychomotor effects of ethanol.