Cardiovascular effects of diazepam and nitrazepam in combination with ethanol

As little attention has been given to cardiovascular effects of a combination of benzodiazepines with ethanol up till now, this paper describes some studies of arterial blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats treated with diazepam or nitrazepam 5 mg X kg-1 and ethanol 2 g X kg-1. It was observed, that ethanol enhanced the mild hypotensive effect of both benzodiazepines and alone reduced arterial blood pressure in proportion to the rate of its absorption and actual plasma level. This effect may be supposed a synergistic effect caused by a changed biotransformation of benzodiazepines or by intensified central sedative action. The heart rate was not substantially influenced by this drug combination.