Self-reported responses to alcohol following oral and intravenous administration in humans: Does route of exposure matter?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 — Poster Session III
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center	NIAAA	CLIN-4

* FARE Award Winner

Authors

• A.M. Durrani
• S. O'Connor
• V.A. Ramchandani

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare subjective responses to alcohol following oral and intravenous (IV) administration regimens designed to achieve comparable breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) exposure within individuals. Forty-four healthy non-dependent drinkers (22 females) underwent this 2-session single-blind study. First, participants received an oral alcohol dose, based on total body water, to achieve a target BrAC of 80mg%. Second: participants received an IV alcohol infusion, using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model-based algorithm to mimic their BrAC exposure following oral alcohol. Serial self-reported perceptions of High, Intoxication, Stimulation, and Sedation were assessed at baseline and following alcohol administration. The %difference in responses across time was computed as a measure of concordance between sessions. Correlation coefficients for peak changes in response between sessions were also computed. Results indicated high concordance between sessions for measures of High and Intoxication (mean %difference of -2% and -1% respectively). Stimulation and Sedation scores showed higher responses for oral compared with IV (%difference of +8% and +17% respectively). Correlation coefficients for responses measures were moderate (High: 0.76, Intoxication: 0.68, Stimulation: 0.74, Sedation: 0.63), indicating high similarity but potentially relevant differences in subjective perceptions of alcohol effects as a function of route of administration.

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