Flurazepam hydrochloride and its principal metabolites: behavioural studies in the monkey (Macaca mulatta).
Effects of flurazepam and its two principal metabolites, hydroxyethylflurazepam and desalkylflurazepam (0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg), were studied on a delayed differentiation task in the monkey. Flurazepam (10.0 mg/kg) and hydroxyethylflurazepam (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) decreased the number of correct responses and increased response latency; effects persisted to 4 h with the highest dose. Marked impairment of performance was observed with all doses of desalkylflurazepam and effects of 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg persisted to 24 h. Evidence of a disinhibitory effect of desalkylflurazepam was demonstrated. The study would point to a consideration of both metabolites in the hypnotic effect and in the impairment of performance observed after acute ingestion of flurazepam in man.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male
C041538:hydroxyethylflurazepam; C033473:didesethylflurazepam; D005479:Flurazepam