Acute performance-impairing and subject-rated effects of triazolam and temazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, in humans.

Full Abstract

The acute behavioural effects of triazolam (0.125 and 0.25 mg), temazepam (15 and 30 mg), and placebo, alone and in combination with ethanol (0 and 0.5 g/kg), were assessed in 10 volunteers. Ethanol alone did not impair performance and produced only a few subject-rated drug effects. Triazolam and temazepam alone produced some performance impairment and a few subject-rated drug effects. These effects tended to be dose-dependent and were comparable for the two drugs across the range of doses tested. The triazolam-ethanol and temazepam-ethanol combinations produced robust performance impairment and sedative-like subject-rated drug effects that were similar in magnitude. The findings of the present study suggest that even a moderate amount of ethanol in combination with a clinical dose of triazolam or temazepam can cause performance impairment that might diminish an individual's ability to respond adequately to unexpected demands (e.g. smoke alarms or middle-of-the-night child care).

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Author information

Author/s: Simpson, Cathy A (CA); Rush, Craig R (CR);

Affiliation: Department ofPsychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.

Grants: R29 DA 09841 (Agency:United States NIDA)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 16 (issue 1) : pp 23-34

Dates: Created 2002/04/12; Completed 2002/10/08; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 11949768, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Affect - drug effects
Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology
Cognition - drug effects
Cross-Over Studies
Depression, Chemical
Double-Blind Method
Drug Interactions
Ethanol - pharmacology
Female

Female
Heart Rate - drug effects
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology
Learning - drug effects
Male
Mental Recall - drug effects
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Equilibrium - drug effects
Psychomotor Performance - drug effects
Temazepam - pharmacology
Triazolam - pharmacology

Associated Chemicals: Anti-Anxiety Agents (0) ; Central Nervous System Depressants (0) ; Hypnotics and Sedatives (0) ; Triazolam (28911-01-5) ; Ethanol (64-17-5) ; Temazepam (846-50-4)

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