Chlorpropamide alcohol flushing: a normal response?

The relationship between chlorpropamide alcohol flushing and non-insulin dependent diabetes remains uncertain. It is known, however, that the frequency of facial flushing with alcohol and the temperature response depend upon both the plasma level of chlorpropamide and the starting facial temperature [10]. We tested 23 young adult non-diabetic subjects with 8 g of ethanol after a dose of chlorpropamide 250 mg twice daily for 2 days or a placebo, in a double blind, cross-over manner. Previously, nine other subjects had participated in a pilot study to assess the safety of the chlorpropamide dose and to ensure that adequate plasma chlorpropamide levels were achieved. No subject was negative for chlorpropamide alcohol flushing, as defined by the following criteria: facial temperature rise of 35% or more of maximum possible rise, observer assessment or subject assessment. In 26 of the total 32 subjects, all three criteria were fulfilled. Thus, among young, healthy non-diabetic adults chlorpropamide alcohol flushing would appear to be a normal phenomenon.