The effects of temazepam and ethanol on human psychomotor performance

Abstract

We have studied the effects of temazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor performance in six healthy men and women using a battery of five microcomputer-based tasks before and 30, 90, and 150 min after treatment. The tests were pursuit tracking, divided attention, two four-choice reaction time tests and tapping rate. The entire battery required 25 min. The subjects also reported their mood at each testing time using a computerized bipolar mood scales test. Temazepam (15 mg) plus ethanol (peak blood concentration of 11 mmol.l-1) significantly impaired divided attention, tracking, and reaction time over a 3 h period. There was significant impairment versus placebo for each drug alone on some of the tests. Plasma and urine concentrations of temazepam and temazepam glucuronide were measured, but there was no significant temporal correlation between impairment and drug or metabolite concentration in either plasma or urine. The subjects knew when they had taken ethanol, but could not discriminate temazepam from ethanol whether alone or in combination. The subjects rated their performance similarly after each of the four treatment conditions. The performance on the tracking, divided attention, and PAB reaction time tasks used in this study was impaired by a combination of temazepam and ethanol in doses which may not cause impairment when each is given alone.

Chapter 16 - Alcohol

“…Alcohol can compound the hangover effects of some sleeping tablets and is likely to disturb complex skills more than simpler motor tasks performed on the morning of the next day (Kunsman et al, 1992). Attention and reaction time tasks were impaired by concentrations of temazepam and ethanol in combinations that alone did not cause decrements in performance.…”

Acute administration of alprazolam, alcohol and their combination on cognitive performance and mood: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

“…Studies that have investigated their combined use offer inconsistent findings, with some studies suggesting an additive ( Roehrs, 2001 ; van Steveninck et al, 1993 ) or possibly synergistic effect ( Kunsman et al, 1992 ; Linnoila and Mattila, 1973 ; Mørland et al, 1974 ) when used in combination while others have found no such interaction ( Bond et al, 1992 ; Landauer et al, 1974 ; Linnoila et al, 1990 ; Seppälä et al, 1982 ; Taeuber et al, 1979 ). Given that as many as 88% of benzodiazepine users report the additional consumption of alcohol, and 28% indicate intentional combined use ( Ilomäki et al, 2013 ), there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding of the combined effects on cognitive functioning.…”