Cognitive, psychomotor, and subjective effects of sodium oxybate and triazolam in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
Illicit gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has received attention as a "date rape drug" that produces robust amnesia; however, there is little experimental evidence in support of GHB's amnestic effects.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared the cognitive effects of GHB (sodium oxybate) with those of triazolam in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Doses of sodium oxybate (1.125, 2.25, and 4.5 g/70 kg), triazolam (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/70 kg), and placebo were administered to 15 volunteers under repeated measures, counterbalanced, double-blind, double-dummy conditions. The time course and peak physiological, psychomotor, subjective, and cognitive effects were examined.


RESULTS
Sodium oxybate and triazolam produced similar increases in participant ratings of drug effects. Performance on psychomotor, working memory, and episodic memory tasks was impaired to a greater extent after triazolam than sodium oxybate.


CONCLUSIONS
Together, these data suggest that sodium oxybate produces less psychomotor and cognitive impairment than triazolam at doses that produce equivalent participant-rated subjective effects in healthy volunteers.
Carter
Lawrence P
LP
Department of Psychiatry, Center for Addiction Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street #843, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
Griffiths
Roland R
RR
Mintzer
Miriam Z
MZ
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019370:Observation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014229:Triazolam / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014229:Triazolam; D012978:Sodium Oxybate