title: Effects of fentanyl and low doses of alcohol on neuropsychological performance in healthy subjects.
abstract: The effects of the opioid fentanyl and low doses of alcohol on neuropsychological functions in healthy volunteers were measured. Twenty-four healthy male volunteers participated in this study. Two randomised placebo-controlled cross-over trials were conducted. In group 1, 6 subjects received fentanyl (0.2 microgram/kg body weight) in the order of fentanyl/placebo and 6 subjects in the order of placebo/fentanyl. Group 2 received alcohol in a similar procedure by continuous intravenous infusion, leading to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.03%. Impairment was measured via different neuropsychological tests. The results indicate that fentanyl in concentrations commonly used in out-patient surgical procedures produces pronounced cognitive impairment (auditory reaction time, signal detection, sustained attention, recognition) in comparison to placebo. After application of low doses of alcohol (BAC 0.03%) only visual reaction time was impaired in comparison to placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hannover, Germany. schneider.udo@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karst
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Müller-Vahl
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seeland
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gielsdorf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Emrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D005283:Fentanyl