Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
. 1984 Oct;18(4):549–557. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1984.tb02503.x

An evaluation of possible interactions between ethanol and trazodone or amitriptyline.

S J Warrington, S I Ankier, P Turner
PMCID: PMC1463620  PMID: 6487494

Abstract

The pharmacodynamic effects of single doses of trazodone (100 mg), amitriptyline (50 mg) or placebo either alone or with ethanol (0.5 ml/kg) were investigated in six healthy volunteers in a double-blind crossover study. Plasma concentrations of the drugs and ethanol were also measured. Pharmacodynamic tests were critical flicker fusion frequency threshold (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT), manual dexterity, a digit span test and visual analogue scales. Blood ethanol concentrations were not influenced by the co-administration of either antidepressant. tmax for trazodone was prolonged by ethanol but the other pharmacokinetic parameters for trazodone and amitriptyline were not influenced by ethanol. Trazodone and amitriptyline caused the expected profound depressant effects on CFF, CRT, manual dexterity and on the rating scales for drowsiness, 'clear-headedness', aggression and disinhibition. Ethanol alone impaired manual dexterity, increased drowsiness, reduced 'clear headedness' and also tended to reduce feelings of aggression. In combination with either trazodone or amitriptyline, ethanol caused little additional effect except in the case of manual dexterity which was further impaired. This result may reflect the profound effects of the antidepressants alone and does not suggest that it is safe for patients receiving antidepressant medication to take ethanolic drinks.

Full text

PDF
549

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Al-Yassiri M. M., Ankier S. I., Bridges P. K. Trazodone--a new antidepressant. Life Sci. 1981 Jun 1;28(22):2449–2458. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(81)90586-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ankier S. I., Martin B. K., Rogers M. S., Carpenter P. K., Graham C. Trazodone--a new assay procedure and some pharmacokinetic parameters. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1981 May;11(5):505–509. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01157.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ayd F. J., Jr, Settle E. C., Jr Trazodone: a novel, broad-spectrum antidepressant. Mod Probl Pharmacopsychiatry. 1982;18:49–69. doi: 10.1159/000406236. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bayer A. J., Pathy M. S., Ankier S. I. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of trazodone in the elderly. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1983 Oct;16(4):371–376. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb02180.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brogden R. N., Heel R. C., Speight T. M., Avery G. S. Trazodone: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in depression and anxiety. Drugs. 1981 Jun;21(6):401–429. doi: 10.2165/00003495-198121060-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hindmarch I. Psychomotor function and psychoactive drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Sep;10(3):189–209. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb01745.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Landauer A. A., Milner G., Patman J. Alcohol and amitriptyline effects on skills related to driving behavior. Science. 1969 Mar 28;163(3874):1467–1468. doi: 10.1126/science.163.3874.1467. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Patman J., Landauer A. A., Milner G. The combined effect of alcohol and amitriptyline on skills similar to motor-car driving. Med J Aust. 1969 Nov 8;2(19):946–949. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1969.tb107519.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rawls W. N. Trazodone (Desyrel, Mead-Johnson Pharmaceutical Division). Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1982 Jan;16(1):7–13. doi: 10.1177/106002808201600102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Scott D. B., Fagan D., Tiplady B. Effects of amitriptyline and zimelidine in combination with ethanol. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1982;76(3):209–211. doi: 10.1007/BF00432546. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Seppälä T. Psychomotor skills during acute and two-week treatment with mianserin (ORG GB 94) and amitriptyline, and their combined effects with alcohol. Ann Clin Res. 1977 Apr;9(2):66–72. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Taeuber K. Dynamic interaction of nomifensine with alcohol. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1977;4(Suppl 2):147S–151S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1977.tb05742.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Thoma J. J., Bondo P. B., Kozak C. M. Tricyclic antidepressants in serum by a Clin-ElutTM column extraction and high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. Ther Drug Monit. 1979;1(3):335–358. doi: 10.1097/00007691-197901030-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES