Abstract
Discussion and Conclusions
Clinical experience with purified alkaloids of veratrum prior to the synthesis of Cryptenamine showed that there was a relatively low incidence of vomiting following intramuscular administration. When a veratrum preparation was given intravenously, however, though a smaller total dose was required to lower blood pressure than when it wras given intramuscularly, the incidence of vomiting was greatly increased. It was observed further that vomiting occurred most frequently following the initial intravenous injection.
When given intramuscularly, Cryptenamine resembled the other veratrum alkaloids both in hypotensive effect and incidence of vomiting. When given intravenously, however, it differed from the other alkaloids since moderately rapid administration caused significantly less vomiting particularly following the initial injection. Our data showed that none of the veratrum alkaloids were particularly emetic when their absorption was slowed, but that the receptors initiating emesis were especially sensitive to the sudden higher concentration presented to it when the drugs were given intravenously. It was only in this respect that Cryptenamine differed from the other alkaloids studied. It is concluded, therefore, that the divergence between the hypotensive and emetic dose of Cryptenamine reported in animals also exists in man, and is most apparent after intravenous administration wherein vomiting is common with the other veratrum alkaloids.
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