Long-term and short-term effects of oral prethcamide in chronic ventilatory failure. The effect of oral prethcamide (Micoren) (a mixture of two related amides of crotonyl N' butyric acid) was compared with a placebo preparation in 13 patients with established chronic ventilatory failure. Part I of the study comprised a double-blind single cross-over trial with an initial assessment and two further assessments at the end of each period of one month. Prethcamide was taken in 200-mg. doses four times daily. No subjective or objective changes were noted, and in particular the resting Pco(2) showed no change.Part II of the study comprised a double-blind single cross-over trial of the short-term effect of prethcamide compared with placebo in 12 patients in chronic ventilatory failure. Frequent
Ventilatory effects of prethcamide in healthy young men The ventilatory effects of intravenous injections and infusions of prethcamide have been investigated with healthy young adult male volunteers. Ventilatory changes due to the drug were measured at constant inspired Pco(2) or constant alveolar Pco(2), and in relation to the response to changes in alveolar Pco(2). The experiments show