PHARMACOKINETICS AND HYDROXYLATION OF PHENAZONE IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM

Elimination kinetics of phenazone and its hepatic hydroxylation was studied in two groups of alcoholics and compared with corresponding data from three control groups without a history of heavy drinking. The first group of alcoholics was made up of patients suffering from delirium but without overt hepatic dysfunction. The second group consisted of patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Pharmacokinetic parameters and urinary elimination of 4-HD-phenazone were nearly identical in all five groups, indicating that disposition and metabolism of phenazone were essentially unimpaired in alcoholics.