Skip to main content
Log in

Rubidium chloride ingestion by volunteer subjects: Initial experience

Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The authors report on the first metabolically controlled study of rubidium chloride administered to humans. Four subjects were given doses of 8.2–12.4 meq. RbCl in a single day, and biological half lives calculated from urinary excretion ranged from 21–55 days. A long term study of chronic rubidium loading in one of these subjects demonstrated no undesirable clinical side effects. After ingestion of a total dose of 268 meq. within a period of 75 days a plasma level of 0.16 meq./liter rubidium was obtained. Urinary excretion proceeded at a rate consistent with a 50 day half life.

The authors speculate on the potential usefulness of RbCl for modification of behavior and affect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Botkin, S. S.: The influence of the salts of rubidium and cesium upon the heart and circulation in connection with the laws of physiological action of alkali metals. Doctoral Dissertation, St. Petersburg Military-Medical Academy, 1888 (Russian).

  2. Colombini, P., Pasquini, P.: The action of rubidium iodide on the blood of syphilitics. Rif. med. 3, 387–389, 411–414 (1898) (Italian).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fieve, R. R.: Multiple measures of behavior and metabolism in interdisciplinary research. Amer. Psych. Assoc. Meeting (Detroit), May 8–12, 1967).

  4. —, Platman, S. R., Plutchik, R. R.: The use of lithium in affective disorders: I. Acute endogenous depression. Amer. J. Psychiat. 125, 487–491 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Iinuma, T., Watari, K., Nagai, T., Iwashima, K., Yamagata, N.: Comparative studies of 132Cs and 86Rb turnover in man using a double-tracer method. J. Radiat. Res. (Tokyo) 8, 100–115 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kilpatrick, R., Renschler, H. E., Munro, D. S., Wilson, G. M.: A comparison of the distribution of 42K and 86Rb in rabbit and man. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 133, 194–201 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Laufenauer, K.: The therapeutic action of rubidium-ammonium-bromide. Orv. Hetil. 24, 317–319 (1889) (Hungarian).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Leistikov, L.: Rubidium iodide. Mh. prakt. Derm. 17, 509–510 (1893).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Meltzer, H. L., Taylor, R. M., Platman, S. R., Fieve, R. R.: Rubidium: A potential modifier of affect and behaviour. Nature (Lond.) 223, 321–322 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ray, C. T., Threefoot, S. A., Burch, G. E.: The excretion of radiorubidium, Rb86, radiopotassium, K42, and potassium, sodium, and chloride by man with and without congestive heart failure. J. Lab. clin. Med. 45, 408–430 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Richet, C.: The physiological action of rubidium salts. Arch. Physiol. et Path. 3, 101–151 (1886).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rottenbiller, J.: The curative effects of rubidium-ammonium-bromide. Gyógyaszat 43, 505–507 (1889) (Hungarian).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Stolk, J. M., Nowack, W. J., Barchas, J. D., Platman, S. R.: Brain norepinephrine: Enhanced turnover after rubidium treatment. Science 168, 501–503 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Urbahn, K.: Über Rubidiumiodide. Dissertation, Kiel 1895.

  15. Vina, J., Bellido, J., Moratom F.: Experimental electrocardiographic studies in the dog on the influence of alkali ions Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+. Z. Biol. 115, 185–193 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yamagata, N.: The concentration of common cesium and rubidium in human body. J. Radiat. Res. (Tokyo) 3, 9–30 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  17. —, Iwashima, K., Nagai, T., Watari, K., Iinuma, T. A.: In vivo experiment on the metabolism of caesium in human blood with reference to rubidium and potassium. J. Radiat. Res. (Tokyo) 7, 29–44 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Zipser, A., Pinto, H. B., Freedman, A. S.: Distribution and turnover of administered rubidium (Rb86) carbonate in blood and urine of man. J. appl. Physiol. 5, 317–322 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

We are indebted to Mrs. Ann Thomas for a comprehensive survey of the rubidium literature, particularly in the area of early human experimentation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fieve, R.R., Meltzer, H.L. & Taylor, R.M. Rubidium chloride ingestion by volunteer subjects: Initial experience. Psychopharmacologia 20, 307–314 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403562

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403562

Key-Words

Navigation