Eight healthy male volunteers participated in four experimental sessions in which they ingested either
DL-308 (10 mg),
DL-308 (20 mg),
thioridazine (50 mg) or placebo. Drugs were allocated to subjects and sessions in a double-blind fashion according to a balanced cross-over design. Both
DL-308 and
thioridazine displayed
sedative properties, as indicated by the sedated appearance of the subjects, by a decrease in subjectively rated alertness and by an impairment of performance on psychomotor tests.
DL-308 appeared to be a more potent
sedative than
thioridazine.
DL-308 (10 mg) caused an increase in subjectivey rated sweating and objectively measured heart rate, suggesting a
sympathomimetic property for the
drug.
DL-308, similarly to
thioridazine, had effects consistent with an alpha-adrenolytic action; both drugs caused
miosis,
hypotension and a decrease in salivation. The decrease in salivation may also be consistent with an
anticholinergic effect. When equisedative doses of the two drugs were compared,
DL-308 had a much smaller influence on autonomic functions than
thioridazine.
DL-308 had a faster time-course of action than
thioridazine. Peak effects were attained 1-3 h post-
drug and the effects almost completely dissipated within 5 h.
DL-308, similarly to
thioridazine, had little effect on the motor system, as indicated by conventional clinical neurological examination.