Effects of Three Classes of Alcoholic Beverages on Chloroquine Absorption in the Stomach and Intestine

The effects of three different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine and gin) on the absorption of chloroquine in the stomach and intestine of rats were determined. The in situ loop method and in situ re-circulation technique were used to determine the absorption of chloroquine [CQ] in the stomach and intestine respectively. 52.50% of CQ was absorbed from the stomach in the absence of alcoholic beverage in 30 minutes while 59.30% was absorbed from the intestine in one hour in the absence of alcoholic beverages.. Alcoholic beverages increased the amount of chloroquine absorbed in the following order; gin > wine > beer. The increases were higher in the stomach. While the percentage increases in absorption induced by alcoholic beverages in the stomach were 12.80, 25.62 and 37.50 for lager beer, wine and gin respectively, the corresponding values for the small intestine were 9.01, 20.13 and 33.24 % for lager beer, wine and gin respectively. The consumption of alcoholic beverages both simultaneously or following the oral administration of CQ does not reduce the amount of CQ absorbed and hence may not be the cause of drug failure.