Journal Published Online: 01 March 1992
Volume 37, Issue 2

The Effect of Ibuprofen on Ethanol Concentration and Elimination Rate

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Pursuant to a recent driving under the influence (DUI) case, a medical study of six subjects was cited reporting that ibuprofen causes a decrease in the maximum rate of elimination of ethanol. Such a drug interaction is of significant forensic science interest and warrants further examination. This study investigates the effect of ibuprofen on ethanol elimination rate and ethanol concentration in nineteen volunteers. Volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to two groups administered either a placebo followed by ethanol or ibuprofen followed by ethanol. Subjects served as their own control. Blood ethanol concentrations were monitored every 30 to 60 min for up to 4 h with Intoximeter 3000 instruments. A blood sample was drawn at the final Intoximeter test and analyzed for ethanol and ibuprofen by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, respectively. The mean elimination rate (±SD) as calculated using Widmark's elimination factor was 0.018 ± 0.006 g/dL for ethanol and 0.017 ± 0.007 g/dL/h for ethanol with ibuprofen. Mean ethanol concentrations (g/dL ± SD) were: 0.095 ± 0.026 (ethanol) and 0.095 ± 0.033 (ethanol and ibuprofen) at 30 min; 0.077 ± 0.026 (ethanol) and 0.075 ± 0.031 (ethanol and ibuprofen) at 150 min; and 0.089 ± 0.025 (ethanol) and 0.087 ± 0.030 (ethanol and ibuprofen) overall. There was no statistically significant affect of ibuprofen on either the peak blood ethanol concentration or the ethanol elimination rate (p ≤ 0.001). These results reveal no evidence of a significant ethanol-ibuprofen interaction.

Author Information

Barron, SE
EcoTek, Inc., Erwin, TN
Perry, JR
Tennessee Highway Patrol Supervisor, Training Section, Tennessee Department of Safety, Nashville, TN
Ferslew, KE
James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson, City, TN
Pages: 4
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS13252J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13252J