Table 3. Interaction of hyperbaric pressure and the use of pharmacologic agents in animal studies; ATA − atmospheres absolute pressure; 1 ATA − control group had drug but remained at 1 ATA; * denotes an additional control group without drug but at test pressure; DCS − decompression sickness; EC − Escherichia coli; He − helium; HPNS − high-pressure nervous syndrome; LoE − level of evidence; MIC − minimum inhibitory concentration; MK-801 − dizocilpine; n − number; N₂ − nitrogen; NA − not applicable; NR − not reported; PC − pressure chamber; PCP − phencyclidine; SA − Staphylococcus aureus; Salm − Salmonella sp; SKF − alazocine; U − unknown .

Reference	n	Type	Drug	Control (ATA)	Pressure (ATA)	Bottom time (h)	Location	Blinded	Outcome	Results	LoE
29	138	Rats	Salicylate	1*	9	3.5	PC	Yes	Anti-pyretic effect	No interaction	Ib
28	U	SA, EC	Antibiotics	1	Multiple	16	OW	N/A	Antibiotic efficacy	Increased MIC: penicillin for SA	IIb
24	40	Rats	Lithium	1*	19.2	NR	PC	Yes	N2 narcosis HPNS	Reduced narcosis; potentiation of HPNS	Ib
22	78	Rats	Diazepam	1	90	2.5	PC	NR	Anesthetic and anticonvulsive effect; HPNS	Prevention of convulsion; reduction of HPNS	IIb
30	U	Dogs	Theophylline	1	6	U	PC	No	Pharmacokinetics	No changes	IIb
31	U	Dogs	Meperidine	1	6	U	PC	No	Pharmacokinetics	No changes	IIb
33	U	Dogs	Pentobarbital	1	6	U	PC	No	Pharmacokinetics	No changes	IIb
32	U	Dogs	Salicylate	1	6	U	PC	No	Pharmacokinetics	Increased clearance at 2.8 ATA and 100% O2	IIb
23	8	Baboons	Sodium valproate	* only	61	5	PC	Yes	Effect on HPNS	Reduced severity	Ib
34	25	Rats	NMDA antagonists	1*	till onset HPNS	several	PC	NR	Effect on HPNS	Little or no effect	Ib
27	U	SA, EC, Salm	Antibiotics	1	36; 71	18	PC	N/A	Antibiotic efficacy	Increased MIC: penicillin for SA; gentamycin and rifampicin for EC + Salm	IIb
25	19	Rats	Losartan	1*	5	30 min x 40 d	PC	NR	Cardiac function	Prevention of change	Ib
26	67	Mice	Sildenafil	* only	10.2	45 min	PC	Yes	DCS	Increased incidence	Ib