The effect of diazepam, haloperidol, MK-801, and propranolol in antagonizing behavioral symptoms induced by lethal doses of cocaine, amphethamine, and methamphetamine were studied in a rat model. Animals were first pretreated IP with potential antagonists, diazepam (2, 5, and 10 mg/kg), haloperidol (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg), propranolol (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg), MK-801 (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/kg), and then were challenged IP with cocaine (70 mg/kg) (LD 85), d-amphethamine (75 mg/kg) (LD 100), and methamphetamine (100 mg/kg) (LD 90). Diazepam, at all doses, provided significant protection against cocaine- ( p⩽0.01) and methamphetamine- ( p⩽0.05) induced seizures and produced a dose-dependent effect against amphetamine-induced seizures. MK-801, at all doses, reduced seizures in all groups ( p⩽0.01). Propranolol altered the incidence of methamphetamine-induced seizures. Significant protection against cocaine-induced death was afforded by diazepam ( p⩽0.01) and propranolol ( p⩽0.05). Significant protection against amphetamine-induced death was provided by haloperidol (all doses, p⩽0.1), MK-801 (all doses, p⩽0.1), and propranolol (10 and 20 mg/kg, p⩽0.1). No agent reduced the incidence of methamphetamine- (50 or 100 mg/kg) induced death. The failure of d-amphetamine antagonists to protect against methamphetamine-induced toxicity and death suggest that different mechanisms of toxicity may exist between these drugs.