Acute performance-impairing and subject-rated effects of triazolam and temazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, in humans.
The acute behavioural effects of triazolam (0.125 and 0.25 mg), temazepam (15 and 30 mg), and placebo, alone and in combination with ethanol (0 and 0.5 g/kg), were assessed in 10 volunteers. Ethanol alone did not impair performance and produced only a few subject-rated drug effects. Triazolam and temazepam alone produced some performance impairment and a few subject-rated drug effects. These effects tended to be dose-dependent and were comparable for the two drugs across the range of doses tested. The triazolam-ethanol and temazepam-ethanol combinations produced robust performance impairment and sedative-like subject-rated drug effects that were similar in magnitude. The findings of the present study suggest that even a moderate amount of ethanol in combination with a clinical dose of triazolam or temazepam can cause performance impairment that might diminish an individual's ability to respond adequately to unexpected demands (e.g. smoke alarms or middle-of-the-night child care).
Simpson
Cathy A
CA
Department ofPsychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.
Rush
Craig R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013693:Temazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014229:Triazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014229:Triazolam; D000431:Ethanol; D013693:Temazepam