Reduced concentrations of plasma diazepam in chronic alcoholic patients following an oral administration of diazepam.

Abstract

Abstract: Diazepam (tensopam®) 10 mg was given orally to 12 chronic alcoholic patients, at the beginning of the alcohol‐free period and to 14 controls. Diazepam in the plasma was determined gaschromatographically with a 63Ni‐EC detector. During the absorption phase the plasma levels of diazepam were reduced to 44% at 2 hours (P < 0.01) and 32% at 3.5 hours (P < 0.001) in alcoholic patients compared with respective values of normal subjects. The reduced values, found in the alcoholic patients, may be due to disturbances in the gastro‐intestinal absorption of diazepam, or to processes involving the portal vein or liver. Some alcoholic patients received a simultaneous treatment with neuroleptic or hypnotic drugs.