Citation

Aderjan R, Schmidt G. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 996-1008.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The interpretation of benzodiazepine effects on driving skills and other forensically relevant actions should be based on the measurement of benzodiazepine blood levels. With respect to the increasing knowledge of benzodiazepine pharmacokinetics and the capability of analytical techniques the monitoring of benzodiazepine metabolites gives additional information for a correct discussion of analytical results. In general a close correlation between drug concentration and drug effect cannot be expected for benzodiazepines. The data of dosage, of time between ingestion and sampling, of drug habituation are at least required besides the many individual factors influencing the relation between drug dosage and therapeutic or toxic effects. Diazepam, oxazepam and flurazepam give an example for interpretation possibilities and limitations when extent of metabolic degradation is used as a further aid. (TRRL)