Acute effects of maprotiline, doxepin and zimeldine with alcohol in healthy volunteers.

In a double-blind and cross-over trial, 12 healthy volunteers received single oral doses of maprotiline 75 mg, doxepin 25 mg, zimeldine 200 mg and placebo, alone and with alcohol (1 g/kg), at one-week intervals. Objective tests of performance (tracking, choice reaction, flicker fusion, body sway, nystagmus, Maddox wing) and ratings of subjective feelings were done before the drug intake (baseline) and 1 1/2, 3, 4 1/2, 6 and 7 1/2 hr after it. Maprotiline and doxepin proved subjectively sedative, whilst doxepin and zimeldine prolonged choice reaction time. An increase of alcohol effects was seen clearly after doxepin, to lesser extent after maprotiline and not at all after zimeldine. On the contrary, zimeldine antagonized alcohol-induced impairment in the tracking test.