Trichloroethylene in Combination With CNS Drugs

Abstract

The purpose of the studies was to determine if three widely used drugs could significantly enhance the effects of trichloroethylene (Trilene) on visual-motor performance. Thonzylamine hydrochloride (Anahist), 50 mg; meprobamate (Equanil), 800 mg; or a lactose placebo was given to each of eight subjects. In a second group, each of six subjects drank alcohol, 35 ml/70 kg of body weight, or a placebo over a 20-minute period starting just at the end of the first test series. In both parts of the study, trichloroethylene was administered for two hours at concentrations of 0, 300, or 1,000 ppm. Compared to trichloroethylene and placebo, the addition of thonzylamine or meprobamate did not significantly alter performance on any test. Low blood levels of alcohol (20 to 30 mg per 100 ml) markedly augmented the adverse effects (P < 0.05) of trichloroethylene on performance of three of the tests.