Possible Interaction: Etomidate and Vitamin C

“Since the generation of steroids requires reductive and energy rich equivalents, the present study examined whether supplementation with ascorbic acid or xylitol, a major source of NADPH, could attenuate adrenal suppression by etomidate in human subjects by promoting the turnover rate of 11-beta-hydroxylase.”

“This study was carried out to assess whether the adrenal inhibition induced by etomidate could be prevented by associating ascorbic acid with etomidate, as a protective effect of ascorbic acid administered three hours after etomidate has been described.”

“It is therefore suggested that etomidate blocks ascorbic acid metabolism.”

“Serious side-effects of etomidate have only been observed in guinea-pigs and in man, both species relying for … ascorbic acid pools upon resynthesis and upon the daily dietary intake of vitamin C. It has been shown that ascorbic acid and not ACTH can … serum cortisol concentration during etomidate ….”