Abstract
Alcohol intoxication and hangover were studied in 12 healthy male subjects who participated in three 18-h experimental sessions; two sessions, in which they consumed 1.43 g alcohol/kg body weight as mixed beverages together with food, and one control session when mineral water was substituted for the alcoholic beverages. In one of the alcohol sessions they received chlormethiazole, 1 g at bedtime and 0.5 g early the following morning, in the other, they were given placebo tablets. The following variables were studied: blood-alcohol concentration; blood pressure; heart rate; blood lactate; blood pyruvate; urinary catecholamines (only during hangover); psychomotor and cognitive capacities; as well as subjective reactions. During intoxication, heart rate and lactate-pyruvate ratio were significantly increased and performance efficiency was significantly deteriorated in comparison with the control condition. During hangover, heart rate, blood pressure, and lactate-pyruvate ratio were significantly elevated, and cognitive performance was still affected, in some tests to a significant degree. During this stage there was a great variation between subjects as regards. subjective hangover. Chlormethiazole was found to lower blood pressure and adrenaline output and, furthermore, to relieve unpleasant physical symptoms, but did not affect fatigue and drowsiness. The cognitive test results were only slightly infleenced by this agent, while psychomotor performance was significantly impaired. Subjects with severe subjective hangover seemed to benefit more from the chlormethiazole treatment than subjects with a mild hangover.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson, B., Hovmöller, S., Karlsson, C.-G., Svensson, S.: Analysis of urinary catecholamines: An improved Auto-analyzer fluorescence method. Clin. Chim. Acta 51, 13–28 (1974)
Andersson, K., Hollstedt, C. Myrsten, A.-L., Neri, A.: The influence of tobacco smoking on the acute-alcohol and post-alcohol stage. Blutalkohol 14, 366–380 (1977)
Brohult, J., Levi, L., Reichard, H.: Urinary excretion of adrenal hormones in man. Acta Med. Scand. 188, 5–13 (1970)
Buijten, J. C.: An automated ultra-micro distillation technique for determination of ethanol in blood and urine. Blutalkohol 12, 393–398 (1975)
Buijten, J. C., Rydberg, U.: An automated simultaneous determination of lactate, pyruvate, glucose and ethanol in blood. Blutalkohol 15, 51–57 (1978)
Buijten, J. C., Goldberg, L., Rydberg, U.: Precision and accuracy of an automated ultra-micro distillation technique for determinations of ethanol in blood and urine. Blutalkohol 14, 405–416 (1977)
Calanca A., Jalonetsky, S., Müller, C.: Further assessment of Hemineurin in the treatment of delirium tremens. L'Encéphale 11, 63–69 (1976)
Chapman, L. F.: Experimental induction of hangover. Q. J. Stud. Alcohol 31, 67–86 (1970)
Dahlgren, L., Lundquist, G. A. R., Rydberg, U.: Klormetiazol som beroendeframkallande, medel. (Chlormethiazole as dependency developing agent.) Med. Riksstämma Abstr. 81, 279 (1972)
Euler, U. S., Lishajko, F.: Improved technique for the flurometric estimation of catecholamines. Acta Physiol. Scand. 51, 348–355 (1961)
Frisch, E. P.: Chlormethiazole (Hemineurin, Distraneurin). Proceedings of a symposium. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. (Suppl.) 192, 233 (1966)
Jostell, K. G., Agurell S., Hollister, L. E., Wermuth, B.: kinetics of chlormethiazole in patients with alcohol withdrawal manifestations. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 23, 181–187 (1978)
Karvinen, E., Miettinen, A., Ahlman, K.: Physical performance during hangover. Q. J. Stud. Alcohol 23, 208–215 (1962)
Kelly, M., Myrsten, A.-L., Neri, A., Rydberg, U.: Effects and aftereffects of alcohol on physiological and psychological functions in man: A controlled study. Blutalkohol 7, 422–436 (1970)
Lundgren, N. P. V.: The physiological effects of time schedule work on lumber-working. Acta Physiol. Scand. 13, (Suppl.) 41, 1–137 (1946)
Mendelson, J. H., Stein, S.: Serum cortisol levels in alcoholic and nonalcoholic subjects during experimentally induced ethanol intoxication. Psychosom. Med. 28, 616–626 (1966)
Moore, R. G., Triggs, E. J., Shanks, C. A., Thomas, J.: Pharmacokinetics of chlormethiazole in humans. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 8, 353–357 (1975)
Myrsten, A.-L., Kelly, M., Neri, A., Rydberg, U.: Acute effects and aftereffects of alcohol on psychological and physiological functions. Reports from the Psychological Laboratories, no. 314. Stockholm: University of Stockholm 1970
Myrsten, A.-L., Post, B., Frankenhaeuser, M.: Catecholamine output during and after acute alcoholic intoxication. Percept. Mot. Skills 33, 552–554 (1971)
Nation, R. L., Learoyd, B., Barber, J., Triggs, E. J.: The pharmacokinetics of chlormethiazole in humans. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 8, 353–357 (1975)
Nilsson, T.: Faktorer av betydelse för utvecklingen av individens alkoholvanor — speciellt sociala faktorer. (Important factors for the development of individual alcohol habits.) Thesis, Stockholm 1973
Pentikäinen, P. J., Neuvonen, P. J., Tarpila, S., Jostell, K.-G., Lindgren, J.-E., Syvälahti, E.: Effect of cirrhosis of the liver on pharmacokinetics of chlormethiazole. International Congress of Pharmacology, Abstract No. 2896, 9. 955 Paris: Pergamon Press 1978
Rydberg, U., Myrsten, A.-L., Neri, A.: Urinary electrolytes and diuresis in hangover. In: Alcohol and aldehyde metabolizing system, vol. 3, B. Chance, H. R. Drott, R. G. Thurman, J. R. Williamsen, eds. pp. 391–398 New York, London, Toronto: Academic Press 1977
Rydberg, U.: Experimentally induced alcoholic hangover. In: Recent advances in the study of alcoholism, C.-M. Ideström, ed., pp. 32–40, Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica 1977
Sainio, K., Leino, T. T., Huttunen, M. O., Ylikahri, R. H.: Electroencephalographic changes during experimental hangover. Electroencephalogl. Clin. Neurophysiol. 40, 535–538 (1976)
Takala, M., Siro, E., Toivainen, Y.: Intellectual functions and dexterity during hangover. Q. J. Stud. Alcohol 19, 1–29 (1958)
Vapaatalo, H., Karppanen, H.: Combined toxicity of ethanol with chlorpromazine, diazepam, chlormethiazole or pentobarbital in mice. Agents Actions 1, 43–45 (1969)
Wilson, J., Stephen, G. W., Scott, D. B.: A study of the cardiovascular effects of chlormethiazole. Br. J. Anaesth. 41 840–843 (1969)
Ylikahri, R. H., Huttunen, M. O., Eriksson, C. J. P., Nikkilä, E. A.: Metabolic studies on the pathogenesis of hangover. Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 4, 93–100 (1974)
Ylikahri, R. H., Leino, T., Huttonen, M. O., Pösö, A. R., Eriksson, C. J. P., Nikkilä, E. A.: Effects of fructose and glucose on ethanol-induced metabolic changes and on the intensity of alcohol intoxication and hangover. Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 6, 93–102 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Myrsten, AL., Rydberg, U., Ideström, CM. et al. Alcohol intoxication and hangover: Modification of hangover by chlormethiazole. Psychopharmacology 69, 117–125 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427636
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427636