On the metabolism of methylated disulphonamides with a diuretic action. A contribution to the mechanism of action of chlorothiazide and similar compounds.

The metabolism of two substances possessing a diuretic action, 4-amino-6-chlorobenzene-1,3-disulphonmethylamide (III) and 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-7-methylsulphamoyl-2H-1,2,4-benzo[e]thiadiazine-1,1-dioxide (IV), has been studied on rats and human subjects. It has been shown that these compounds are not demethylated in the -SO(2).NHCH(3) group. They therefore do not act through liberation of substances with unsubstituted sulphonamido-groups which might inhibit carbonic anhydrase, and their mechanism of diuretic action cannot be considered due to inhibition of this enzyme.