The effect of nitrazepam on manual skill, grip strength, and reaction time with special reference to subjective evaluation of effects on sleep.
The effects of 5 and 10 mg oral nitrazepam doses on manual skills, grip strength, and reaction time 8 hours after ingestion of the drugs were studied in 34 healthy female volunteers aged 19-22 years. 5 mg nitrazepam caused a slight but insignificant decrease in psychomotor skills. With 10 mg psychomotor skills were influenced significantly. Grip strength and reaction time were not influenced either by the 5 or 10 mg doses. The investigators corroborate the value of the established effects of nitrazepam as a hypnotic, but recommend that caution should be excercised in prescribing the drug as a hypnotic (especially in doses exceeding 5 mg) to work-aged subjects as there is a risk of significant effect on the psychomotor skills. Furthermore, the drug may cause fatigue.
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009567:Nitrazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
D009567:Nitrazepam