Interaction of Sted-eze, nikethamide, pipradrol, or ammonium chloride with ethanol in human males.
The central stimulants, pipradrol and nikethamide, the commercially available purported ethanol antagonist vitamin compound, Stedeze, and the acidifying diuretic, ammonium chloride, were tested for their efficacy in reversing acute ethanol intoxication in humans. Male moderate drinkers ingested ethanol (0.8 g/kg) and then either pipradrol (2.5 mg), nikethamide (1.25 g), Stedeze (4 tablets: 160 mg vitamin B, 160 mg vitamin B2, 45 mg niacin, 1 g yeast), ammonium chloride (1.0 g), or placebo according to double-blind, within-subjects, crossover designs. Subjects were individually tested on a battery of physiologic and behavioral measures of intoxication that included platform-balance, divided attention and memory performance, electroencephalographic recordings, mood adjective check list, and objective and subjective inebriation ratings. In addition, blood ethanol concentrations (BECs) were monitored throughout each session. Although some antagonistic effects were found with nikethamide and ammonium chloride, none of the agents consistently reduced the degree of ethanol intoxication on the measures employed. In no instance did treatment with Stedeze significantly reduce intoxication when compared to placebo treatment (t test paired data or Wilcoxon signed-ranks matched-pairs test). These results indicate that none of the tested drugs represent effective sobering agents at the doses employed.