A repeated dose comparison of three benzodiazepine derivatives (nitrazepam, flurazepam and flunitrazepam) on subjective appraisals of sleep and measures of psychomotor performance the morning following night‐time medication

Abstract

Repeated doses of 5 mg nitrazepam, 15 mg flurazepam, and 1 mg flunitrazepam improved subjective assessments of the ease of getting to sleep and the perceived quality of induced sleep in a population of 30 healthy volunteers. The subjective reports of improved sleep inducement were related to a perceived difficulty in awakening from sleep the morning following medication. This subjectively reported "hangover" is also shown in the impairment of mental arithmetic abilities as measured on the serial subtraction of sevens technique. However, complex psychomotor performance is unaffected by repeated administration of these three benzodiazepine derivatives, although these later results are somewhat equivocal. Evidence of a "rebound phenomenon" following 4 nights' withdrawal of active medication is shown in both subjective and objective measures of sleep and early morning behaviour.

MR Spectroscopy of the Fetal Brain: Is It Possible without Sedation?

“…Adverse effects, such as impairment of cognitive functions, with a lack of concentration and confusion, are possible (hangover-like effect). 18 Impaired psychomotor functions affect reaction times and driving skills. Other adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting, and respiratory depression may occur in case of overdose.…”

“…Other adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting, and respiratory depression may occur in case of overdose. 18 Fetal behavior, which can be visualized by dynamic MR imaging, 19 cannot be evaluated reliably in sedated fetuses. This may impair the "neurologic" assessment of the fetus, which consists of morphologic, metabolic, and movement evaluation.…”

The effects of rilmenidine and atenolol on mental stress, dynamic exercise and autonomic function in mild to moderate hypertension.

“…For psychomotor testing, critical flicker fusion threshold and choice reaction time scores were measured with the Leeds Psychomotor Tester [20].…”

Pharmacodynamic effects of buspirone and clobazam.

“…Subjects were required to discriminate flicker in a set of four light emitting diodes held in foveal fixation at 1 m. Flicker fusion threshold was determined for three ascending (fficker/fusion) and three descending (fusion/fficker) scales using the psychophysical method of limits (Woodworth & Schlosberg, 1958) (Hindmarch, 1975;Hindmarch & Parrott, 1978). The mean of 20 stimulus presentations, recorded on the Leeds Psychomotor Tester, was used to determine recognition (RRT) and motor (MRT) components of total reaction time (TRT).…”

“…Critical flicker fusion (CFF) This test was used as a measure of overall CNS activity and specifically the ability to distinguish sensory data (Hindmarch, 1982b;Hindmarch & Parrott, 1978). Subjects were required to discriminate flicker in a set of four light emitting diodes held in foveal fixation at 1 m. Flicker fusion threshold was determined for three ascending (fficker/fusion) and three descending (fusion/fficker) scales using the psychophysical method of limits (Woodworth & Schlosberg, 1958) (Hindmarch, 1975;Hindmarch & Parrott, 1978).…”