Comparative study of nifedipine and isradipine in animal models of ethanol dependence.

The effects of calcium channel inhibitors on ethanol intake and dependence in Wistar rats were studied. Nifedipine and isradipine were suspended in 1% Tween 40 saline solution and administered ip 60 min prior to testing. Audiogenic seizure response evaluation was performed after 5 days of ethanol treatment. Both nifedipine and isradipine significantly reduced the intensity score of convulsions and, in doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively, abolished them. Both drugs significantly reduced ethanol preference and intake in the high preference group of animals. Our results support the observations that certain dihydropyridine derivatives are capable of attenuating both ethanol preference and physical dependence.