Pilot study of lorazepam and tiagabine effects on sleep, motor learning, and impulsivity in cocaine abstinence.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effects of mechanistically different GABA modulating agents on the disrupted sleep and cognitive function associated with abstinence from cocaine.


METHODS
We examined the effects of lorazepam and tiagabine on polysomnographically measured sleep and cognition in six cocaine dependent persons. Participants were studied during the first and second week of controlled abstinence following intravenous, laboratory cocaine administration.


RESULTS
Lorazepam and tiagabine decreased sleep latency, but whereas lorazepam markedly increased light sleep, tiagabine caused a dramatic shift toward slow-wave sleep. Despite increasing total sleep time, lorazepam impaired sleep dependent learning and increased next day impulsivity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results introduce the possibility of different, sleep-related cognitive effects of mechanistically distinct GABAergic sedative hypnotics.
Morgan
Peter T
PT
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine and Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA. peter.morgan@yale.edu
Malison
Robert T
RT
D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000078308:Tiagabine
D018755:GABA Agonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D008140:Lorazepam; D000078308:Tiagabine