Variations in serum electrolytes of drugs abusers

The study was planned to demonstrate the effect of mixed drugs abuse on some serum electrolytes. The drugs abused detected were almost always opiates and opioids and their derivatives. No effect had been detected on serum Na, Ca and Cu but there was slight decrease in K, noticeable decrease in Zn and significant decrease in Mg. The results of the analysis of the serum electrolytes in this study showed no changes in serum Na, Ca and negligible decrease in Cu. Serum K showed nonsignificant decrease [15% of the control value]. Serum Zn presented nonsignificant decrease [20.8% of the control value]. Serum Mg showed a significant decrease [P <0.004]

effect of clonidine hydrochloride [Catapres] on mepivacaine spinal anesthesia

To study the effect of clonidine hydrochloride [catapress] on mepivacaine subarachnoid block, 40 patients were divided into 2 groups. The first [control group] received mepivacaine alone [120 mg] and the other [clonidine group] received mepivacaine [120 mg] plus clonidine [150 mg] intrathecally. It was found that clonidine potentiated and prolonged the duration of sensory and motor blockade and can cause sedation of the patients without a greater effect on the hemodynamics than that produced by the local anesthetic alone