paraldehyde

Introduction

DEA-controlled substance: class 4.

Dosage

Hypnosis: 0.3 mL/kg up to 4-8 mL PO/PR Sedation: 0.15 mL/kg up to 5-10 mL PO/PR. Delirium tremens: up to 10-35 mL PO.

Liquid: 1 g/mL.

Adverse effects

• disagreeable taste
• irritation to the throat & stomach
• cyanosis
• cough
• hypotension
• respiratory depression
• acidosis
• hepatitis
• nephrosis
• pulmonary hemorrhage & edema
• right ventricular dilation

• drug adverse effects of psychotropic agents
• drug adverse effects of sedatives

Laboratory

• specimen: serum, plasma (EDTA)
• methods: GLC
• interferences: GLC method measures acetaldehyde, which must be excluded as interfering substance

More general terms

• sedative/hypnotic (tranquilizer)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=31264