Editing Chloroform (section)

===Pharmacology===
Chloroform is well absorbed, metabolized, and eliminated rapidly by mammals after oral, inhalation, or dermal exposure. Accidental splashing into the eyes has caused irritation.<ref name="cicad" /> Prolonged dermal exposure can result in the development of sores as a result of [[Defatting (medical)|defatting]]. Elimination is primarily through the lungs as chloroform and carbon dioxide; less than 1% is excreted in the urine.<ref name="pth" />

Chloroform is metabolized in the liver by the [[cytochrome P-450]] enzymes, by oxidation to trichloromethanol and by reduction to the dichloromethyl [[free radical]]. Other metabolites of chloroform include [[hydrochloric acid]] and diglutathionyl dithiocarbonate, with [[carbon dioxide]] as the predominant end-product of metabolism.<ref name="eot">{{cite encyclopedia| first=Anna M. |last=Fan | title=Chloroform | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | edition=2nd | volume=1 | publisher=Elsevier | year=2005 | pages=561–565}}</ref>

Like most other general anesthetics and sedative-hypnotic drugs, chloroform is a [[Allosteric modulator|positive allosteric modulator]] at [[GABAA receptor|GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Jenkins|first1=Andrew|last2=Greenblatt|first2=Eric P.|last3=Faulkner|first3=Howard J.|last4=Bertaccini|first4=Edward|last5=Light|first5=Adam|last6=Lin|first6=Audrey|last7=Andreasen|first7=Alyson|last8=Viner|first8=Anna|last9=Trudell|first9=James R.|last10=Harrison|first10=Neil L.|date=2001-03-15|title=Evidence for a Common Binding Cavity for Three General Anesthetics within the GABAA Receptor|journal=Journal of Neuroscience|language=en|volume=21|issue=6|pages=RC136|doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-06-j0002.2001|issn=0270-6474|pmid=11245705|pmc=6762625|doi-access=free}}</ref> Chloroform causes depression of the [[central nervous system]] (CNS), ultimately producing deep [[coma]] and respiratory center depression.<ref name="eot" /> When ingested, chloroform causes symptoms similar to those seen after inhalation. Serious illness has followed ingestion of {{convert|7.5|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The mean lethal oral dose in an adult is estimated at {{convert|45|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name="cicad" />

The anesthetic use of chloroform has been discontinued, because it caused deaths from respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Following chloroform-induced anesthesia, some patients suffered [[nausea]], [[vomiting]], [[hyperthermia]], [[jaundice]], and coma owing to [[hepatic dysfunction]]. At autopsy, liver [[necrosis]] and degeneration have been observed.<ref name="cicad" /> The hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of chloroform is thought to be due largely to [[phosgene]], one of its metabolites.<ref name="eot" />