Pharmacology of beta-diethylaminoethyl xanthene-9-carboxylate methobromide (banthine) and chloride.

Abstract

The above studies indicate that the predominant action of Banthine, and the one which is obtained with the smallest parenteral dose, is parasympathetic neuro-effector blockade. In this respect the drug is one-half to two-thirds as active as atropine in its ability (a) to relax acetylcholine spasm in the excised rabbit ileum and reduce intestinal motility and tone in the dog and cat; (b) to dilate the rabbit pupil on local administration; (c) to dry salivary secretion in the dog; and (d) to block Mecholyl or electrical vagus inhibition of the heart in cats and dogs. Slightly larger doses also block autonomic ganglia. On the superior cervical (sympathetic) ganglion in the cat, Banthine is about equal to TEA in potency. Large doses of Banthine, approaching the lethal range, have a curare-like action. This is reversible with moderate doses. Death from larger doses is due to respiratory paralysis accompanied by flaccid paralysis of striated muscle. The degree of Banthine absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract in cats and dogs is such as to require oral doses 50 to 200 times the intravenous ED 50 to produce effect on the cervical sympathetic ganglion. Therapeutic responses in man have been obtained principally with oral administration (6-8).