Interaction of Chloral Hydrate and Furosemide
Untoward reactions were recently reported in six patients following the concomitant administration of chloral hydrate orally and furosemide intravenously. A retrospective epidemiologic study was initiated to evaluate this report. Medication records of adult medical and pediatric patients who received care at Shand's Teaching Hospital from July, 1969 to May, 1975 were scanned by computer to identify patients exposed to either chloral hydrate or flurazepam and furosemide. Five thousand two hundred and sixty-two patients were found to have received furosemide alone or in combination with either chloral hydrate or flurazepam. Computer records of these patients were reviewed to identify patients who received either chloral hydrate or flurazepam and then, in the twenty-four hours following the administration of the sedative-hypnotic, received furosemide. This procedure resulted in a final study population consisting of 43 patients who received both chloral hydrate and furosemide. Medical records of the study group and three control groups were then reviewed to determine if untoward symptoms similar to those reported previously were evident. One patient in the study group exhibited symptoms of the reaction and two patients were identified as having possible reactions. No patient in any of the control groups exhibited manifestations of the reaction.