Metabolism of 8-chloro-6-(o-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-s-triazolo [4,3-alpha] [1,4] benzodiazepine, triazolam, a new central depressant. I. Absorption, distribution and excretion in rats, dogs and monkeys.

1. Peak radioactivity in the blood was reached at 30 min after i.p. and 1 h after oral dosing of [14C]triazolam to rats. In dogs, peak blood level was observed at 30 min after oral dosing. 2. Daily dosing of triazolam to male rats for 21 days caused a gradual increase in blood level, with peak at 1 h after dosing. 3. The rate of binding of triazolam plus its metabolites to plasma protein of rats was about 30% at 15 min and 6 h. 4. In rats, the majority of the activity of the intra-intestinally administered [14C]triazolam was found in the small intestines in 6 h. 5. About 58% of the oral dose and 77% of the i.p. dose were recovered in the bile of rats in 48 h after dosing. When the bile from one rat was introduced into the duodenum of a second rat, approximately 37% was recovered in the bile of the second animal in 24 h. 6. In male rats, high radioactivity was seen in the liver, kidneys, adrenals and heart, and low in the CNS. By 96 h after dosing, radioactivity in the liver, blood and kidneys was very low, and was undetectable in other tissues and organs. Radioactivity levels in tissues after daily dosing for 7, 14 and 21 days did not differ appreciably from single administration. 7. In monkeys, activity was high in the liver, kidneys and skin following oral administration and low in the CNS. 8. After oral administration of [14C]triazolam to pregnant rats, the activity in the uterus and placenta was higher than that in the maternal blood. The activity in the foetus was low. 9. In rats given [14C]triazolam orally or i.p., 85% and 12% of the oral dose, and 82% and 14% of the i.p. dose were recovered in the faeces and urine, respectively, in 96 h. The rate of cumulative faecal and urinary excretion after repeated dosing was similar to the single dosing with 80% and 14% of the activity recovered, respectively, in faeces and urine in 6 days. In dogs, 50% of the oral dose was found in the faeces and 40% in the urine. 10. Radioactivity in the milk of rats was maximal at 4 h after oral dosing. It declined to 34% of the peak level 48 h later.