Comparative study of the analeptic-respirogenic agents doxapram HCl and nikethamide: I - the acute toxicity and analeptic activity in mice

LD50 determinations showed that both Doxapram HCl and Nikethamide fall in the category of moderate toxicity; but Doxapram HCl was the less toxic. Assessment of the arousal capacity of Doxapram HCl against sleeping doses of pentobarbitone sodium in mice demonstrated that the drug has a high therapeutic index. Assessment of the restorative activity of Doxapram HCl and of Nikethamide against toxic doses of pentobarbitone sodium as percentage survival in mice, demonstrated the higher potency of Doxapram HCl