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The relationship between peak velocity of saccadic eye movements and serum benzodiazepine concentration.
Author(s) -
Bittencourt PR,
Wade P,
Smith AT,
Richens A
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01261.x
Subject(s) - temazepam , flurazepam , nitrazepam , benzodiazepine , diazepam , oxazepam , saccadic masking , anesthesia , bromazepam , zopiclone , chemistry , medicine , pharmacology , hypnotic , eye movement , ophthalmology , receptor
1 Six healthy male volunteers received single oral doses of 10 mg diazepam, 20 mg temazepam, 15 mg flurazepam, 5 mg nitrazepam, 10 mg desmethyl‐diazepam and placebo in a double‐blind randomized fashion. 2 Peak velocity of saccadic eye movements, serum benzodiazepine concentration, and subjective ratings of wakefulness and co‐ordination were measured at intervals up to 12 h after drug administration. 3 All active treatments produced a statistically significant decrease in peak saccadic velocity. The effect of temazepam and diazepam was generally more pronounced than that of flurazepam, nitrazepam and desmethyl‐ diazepam. 4 There were log‐linear correlations between peak saccadic velocity and serum benzodiazepine concentration after ingestion of temazepam, diazepam and nitrazepam. 5 These results demonstrate a clear relationship between serum benzodiazepine concentration and its effect on a convenient measure of brainstem reticular formation function.