Effects of psychotropic drugs of different classes injected in super small doses

Effects of benzodiazepine tranquillizers (phenazepam, flunitrazepam), antidepressants (amitriptiline, imipramine) and nootropic piracetam injected in supersmall dozes were studied in outbred albino rats. It was found that in supersmall doses (10(-12)-10(-14) mol/kg) all these substances exert characteristic for each of these classes specific effects revealed by means of adequate pharmacological techniques. Benzodiazepine tranquillizers increased the number of punished water lickings in the conflict situation test. Antidepressants increased the number of wheel rotations in the test of the forced swimming in a tank with freely rotating wheels and enhanced a correlation between the number of wheel turns during the first and the second five minutes of the experiment. Nootrop piracetam increased the rate of acquisition of the active avoidance reflex in a shuttle box. The effects of all investigated drugs injected in supersmall doses were not accompanied by side effects, characteristic for them at administration in usual dosages. The conclusion is made, that the action of the drugs injected in supersmall doses is an universal property of psychotropic drugs. When administered in supersmall doses the pharmacological substances still exert their specific activity, but are devoid of side effects.