“…An in vitro screening test has been developed in which the ability of a given compound to competitively inhibit the oxidation of sparteine or debrisoquine in microsomal preparations from human liver is examined (Otton etal., 1983;Boobis etal., 1983;Inaba et al, 1985). Quinidine is a very potent in vitro (Otton et al, 1984) and in vivo inhibitor of sparteine and debrisoquine oxidation (Brinn et al, 1986;Speirs et al, 1986;Br0sen et al, 1987), but in vitro, panel, and clinical studies indicate that its elimination via the sparteine oxygenase is limtied (Mikus etal., 1986;Brinn et al, 1986;Gram & Br0sen, 1988). Several neuroleptics, among them haloperidol, are also potent in vitro inhibitors of the sparteine oxygenase (Inaba et al, 1985), and are clinically potent inhibitors of the metabolism of tricyclic antidepressants (Gram & Over0, 1972;Gram 1975;Gram et al, 1984; press).…”