Effect of parenterally administered ethanol on the tissue distribution of phencyclidine following percutaneous absorption.

At 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr after percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine hydrochloride in the hairless mouse, concentrations of the drug in blood, brain, liver, lung, and heart were much lower in mice that had been pretreated with hypertonic ethanol by intraperitoneal injection than in control mice pretreated with water. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that hypertonic ethanol inhibits the percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine. The relative pattern of tissue distribution of phencyclidine, however, appeared to be essentially the same for both groups. It appears that the magnitude of percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine does not alter its relative tissue distribution.