Drug interaction between ivermectin and etomidate: Investigation on the effect of ivermectin on etomidate anaesthesia

The present study aims to determine the effect of ivermectin on the duration of anaesthesia performed with etomidate and to find out if there are any interactions between these two drugs at the central nervous system level. For this purpose, 25 Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 5 groups with 5 rats in each group. Group I received only subcutaneous saline at a dosage of 0.1 ml/100 g bw. Group II received the intraperitoneal injection of propylene glycol at a dosage of 1 mL/100 g bw. Group III received the subcutaneously 0.2 mg/kg bw ivermectin. Two hours after these treatments, neuropharmacological tests (rotarod and open field) were performed. Also, Group IV received 20 mg/kg bw etomidate intraperitoneally. Group V received subcutaneously 0.2 mg/kg bw ivermectin and 2 hours after the ivermectin administration, 20 mg/kg bw etomidate was given intraperitoneally. In these two groups, anaesthesia was monitored and the sleep duration was calculated based on rectal reflexes. Once the animals were fully awake, neuropharmacological tests were performed. Ivermectin that was administered two hours before the etomidate anaesthesia prolonged etomidate sleeping duration strongly. Also, ivermectin increased motion and decreased motor coordination, in association with etomidate it potentiates CNS depression (with prolonged sleep duration and decreased motor coordination).