Detection of narcotic use. Comparison of the nalorphine (pupil) test with chemical tests

The nalorphine (pupil) test for narcotic abuse is widely used in California. It is based on the ability of nalorphine to produce mydriasis in subjects who have recently taken morphine-like drugs and to produce miosis in others. The test will usually detect as little as 15 mg of morphine or comparable doses of other narcotics for several hours except in special circumstances. It is even more reliable for detection of chronic use of narcotics. A simple card pupillometer is adequate for measuring changes in pupil size resulting from nalorphine. Analysis for narcotics in urine by thin layer chromatography is also used, either alone or in conjunction with the pupil test, to detect drug abuse. In one study which included many urine speciments from subjects who had negative pupil tests the correlation between the pupil test and urinalysis was good (85 percent). When urinalysis was used to confirm suspicion of drug use resulting from a positive or equivocal pupil test, inter-method agreement dropped to about 50 percent for various reasons. Even so, use of the pupil test for screening and urinalysis for confirmation provides a satisfactory program for detection of narcotic abuse.

Some basic ketones with central nervous system depressant activity

Some γ-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxypiperidino)-butyrophenones and related compounds have been prepared and screened for central nervous system depressant activity. One of the more active, γ-(4-p-chlorobenzyl-4-hydroxypiperidino)-p-fiuorobutyrophenone, was selected for further study and in experimental animals was found to have effects on the central nervous system similar to both those of chlorpromazine and of haloperidol.

Liberation of antidiuretic hormone: pharmacologic blockade of ascending pathways

Water diuresis was established and maintained in dogs anesthetized with chloralose. Both ureters were cannulated and a continuous recording of urine flow obtained. ADH release was obtained from stimulation of the central end of a vagus nerve (the vagus-pituitary reflex), and ulnar nerve (nociceptive response) as well as from stimulation of reactive areas in the brain stem. Meperidine (10–15 mg/kg) and morphine (1–4 mg/kg) blocked the response to ulnar nerve stimulation and some brain-stem responses, but not the vagus-pituitary reflex. Similarly, the adrenergic blocking agents, Hydergine (0.3–0.6 mg/kg), phenoxybenzamine (2.0 mg/kg) and phentolamine (0.25 mg/ kg) markedly reduced the ulnar response and some brain-stem responses but not the vagus-pituitary reflex. However, larger doses of phenoxybenzamine (5 mg/kg) and Hydergine (1 mg/ kg) did inhibit the vagus-pituitary reflex. The anticholinergic agents, atropine (1–10 mg/kg) and ethybenztropine (0.5–2.0 mg/kg), were not effective blocking agents themselves but did render the inhibitory action of the adrenergic blocking agents more effective. These results suggest the existence of at least two different ascending pathways for ADH liberation. In addition, the evidence is compatible with the participation of adrenergic as well as cholinergic mechanisms in ADH liberation.