Experimental Assessment of the Protective Activity of Diazepam on the Acute Toxicity of Chloroquine

Abstract The dose of diazepam that reduces the mortality rate of acute intoxications with chloroquine was determined: The oral LD 50 of chloroquine (330 mg/kg) was administered and immediately thereafter diazepam was injected intraperitoneally to male and female rats at dose levels of 2.5, 7.5, 20, 55, and 148 mg/kg. An untreated group served as control. A significant decrease of the mortality rate was observed at the dose levels 7.5, 20, and 55 mg/kg with optimal effect at 20 mg/kg. This mortality rate was analysed by analysis of variance. The occurrence of two types of symptoms: convulsions and respiratory disturbances was analysed by the chi square method.