Differentiating the sedative, psychomotor and amnesic effects of benzodiazepines: a study with midazolam and the benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil.
Sixteen healthy volunteers were administered midazolam followed by placebo or the benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil, in a double-blind, cross-over study. Flumazenil reversed midazolam-induced sedation on the subjective, psychophysiological and motor indices used. In contrast, there was little evidence of any reversal of amnesic effects, which were assessed using both direct (explicit) and indirect (implicit) measures of memory. Results are discussed in terms of dissociating the sedative and amnesic effects of benzodiazepines.
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
H V
HV
Curran
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B
Birch
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005425:Flicker Fusion / Q000187:drug effects; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008874:Midazolam / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005442:Flumazenil; D008874:Midazolam