A pharmacodynamic study of quazepam and triazolam

✍ Scribed by G. Casucci; A. di Costanzo; R. Riva; S. Allocca; G. Tedeschi

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 499 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.470060405

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A double‐blind single oral dose study in 10 healthy volunteers was performed during the day to compare the diurnal effects of quazepam (15 mg) and triazolam (0.25 mg) on psychomotor performance. The central effect of the two benzodiazepines was assessed by means of a computer analysis of visually guided saccadic eye movements (SEM), critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), and choice reaction time (CRT). The results obtained suggest that: computer analysis of SEM is more sensitive than CRT and CFFT to detect sedative drug effects at a subclinical level; the presumed equipotent doses of quazepam and triazolam tested do not show the same sedative activity; the minimal impairment produced by quazepam on CNS function does not seem to be related to the property to bind to BZ1 receptors; the pharmacodynamic profile of quazepam seems to be characteristic of a “non‐sedative” agent, while triazolam behaves as a “sedative” benzodiazepine.