Metadoxine (pyrrolidone carboxylate of pyridoxine) antagonizes the locomotor-stimulatory effect of ethanol in mice.

The effects of metadoxine (pyrrolidone-carboxylic acid; PCA) and pyridoxine on the locomotor responses to ethanol in mice were compared. Metadoxine (200 and 400 mg/kg i.p.) and PCA (86 and 172 mg/kg) prevented, in a dose-related manner, the locomotor stimulant effect of a low dose of ethanol (1.5 g/kg i.p.), whereas pyridoxine (228 mg/kg i.p.) was completely ineffective. Neither compound modified the sedative effect of a high ethanol dose (2.5 g/kg i.p.). The results indicate that the antagonistic effect of metadoxine on ethanol stimulant response is due to the PCA component of the molecule.