Effects of butoctamide hydrogen succinate and nitrazepam on psychomotor function and EEG in healthy volunteers.

We studied the effects of butoctamide hydrogen succinate and nitrazepam on psychomotor function and EEG in eight male volunteers aged 19-32. The hypnotic effects, effects on psychomotor performance, EEG activity and standing steadiness between BAHS 1000 mg and nitrazepam 5 mg were compared at regular intervals for 10 h. The serum levels of both drugs were also assayed. The hypnotic effects of BAHS were very weak compared to those of nitrazepam. BAHS did not exert any effects on psychomotor performance and standing steadiness during the test period. In contrast, nitrazepam impaired psychomotor performance and standing steadiness as the serum drug levels increased. Nitrazepam decreased the alpha activity and increased the beta activity in a concentration-dependent manner. BAHS did not change the alpha activity but increased beta-2 activity at Fz and Cz at 10 h of the post-drug period. BAHS was eliminated more rapidly than nitrazepam. These results indicated that BAHS, at the dose used, was less potent than nitrazepam and the effects on psychomotor performance and standing steadiness were minimal.