Citation

Giorgetti R, Zancaner S, Tambuscio S, Ferrara SD. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 2000; 2000: -p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the possible effects of Etizolam on human psychomotor performance. Methods: Sixteen young healthy volunteers, eight male and eight female, were recruited as subjects. Drugs (Lorazepam 2 mg, Etizolam 0.25, Etizolam 1 mg) and placebo were administered according to a single-dose, double-blind, balanced, four-way, crossover design. Subjects' psychomotor performance was assessed at baseline and at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after treatment. Psychomotor performance was measured using the following tests: Critical Flicker Fusion, Visual Vigilance Task, Choice Reaction Time, Critical Tracking Task, Response Competition Test. Results: Etizolam at both doses had no effect on vigilance, short term memory, psychomotor coordination or speed of decision making. Nevertheless, at the dose of 1 mg, it did play a significant role in impairing arousal. Lorazepam caused significant impairment of all psychomotor functions tested in the experiment. Conclusion: After single therapeutic doses, Etizolam does not induce important changes in psychomotor performance and therefore the drug does not influence the ability to drive or work.