Evaluation of zolpidem on alertness and psychomotor abilities among aviation ground personnel and pilots.
The use of hypnotics to optimize rest periods during sustained operations could be of help to military personnel. Zolpidem, an imidazopyridine hypnotic, was evaluated for its residual effects on daytime wakefulness in 12 subjects belonging to ground air force personnel and 12 navy fighter pilots. In this controlled double blind crossover study, each subject randomly received zolpidem 10 mg, flunitrazepam 1 mg or placebo, in three separate sessions, 1 week apart at 10 p.m. or 1 a.m., respectively. The absence of residual effects after zolpidem intake was attested by subjective assessments, psychomotor tests (including a simulated flight), and EEG analysis showed that this hypnotic could be considered for operational use.
Service de Sante, Base Aeronavale, Rochefort Aero-Marine, France.
B A
BA
Sicard
S
S
Trocherie
J
J
Moreau
H
H
Vieillefond
L A
LA
Court
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem