title: Behavioral effects of alprazolam in humans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine, in healthy volunteers without histories of extensive sedative use, the acute behavioral effects of doses of alprazolam used in clinical applications. Subjects participated in daily sessions over 12 study days. They consumed a standard breakfast, received an oral drug dose (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 mg) and completed performance tasks for 3 hours after dosing. Tasks included a digit-symbol substitution task, a repeated-acquisition of response sequences task, a differential reinforcement of low response rate task designed to monitor time estimation, a number recognition task, and a second-order repeated-acquisition of response sequences task. Each active dose was administered prior to two sessions, according to a randomized block design, and placebo sessions separated successive active-dose sessions. With the exception of the second-order repeated acquisition of response sequences task, dose-related changes in performance were observed during all tasks, but effects were significant only following the 1 mg dose. No drug-related changes were observed on visual-analog scale ratings of drug effect. The data indicate that the risk of adverse performance effects following use of alprazolam is related to dose, with risks increasing at doses at or above 0.5 mg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0086, USA.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Foltin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serpick
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fischman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000525:Alprazolam