[Effects of short-action hypnotics triazolam and zopiclone on simulated flight performance].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of short-action hypnotics triazolam and zopiclone on simulated flight performance so as to provide experimental evidences for the use of these drugs in aircrew.


METHODS
Six healthy young male volunteers served as the subjects. They were asked to take triazolam (0.25 mg), zopiclone (7.5 mg) or placebo at noon time (13:00) and sleep for 1 h. Simulated flight performances were tested in a simulator 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 6 b, 8 h, 10 h and 20 h (next morning 9:00) after taking the drugs. The experiments were done once a week for 3 weeks.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between simulated flight performances before or after triazolam while simulated flight performances at 2 h and 3 h after taking zopiclone showed significant decrease (P<0.05), but restored to normal 4 h after taking the drug.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-action hypnotics triazolam had no significant effect on simulated flight performance, while zopiclone had significant adverse effects on simulated flight performance at 2 h and 3 h after taking the drug.
Jing
Bai-sheng
BS
Institute of Aviation Medicine, The Air Force, Beijing, China. jbslawyerl58@sina.com
Zhan
Hao
H
Li
Yan-feng
YF
Zhou
Ya-jun
YJ
Guo
Hua
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001359:Aviation; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014229:Triazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone; D014229:Triazolam