The effects of midazolam in conjunction with alcohol on sleep, psychomotor performance and car driving ability.

The acute and early morning effects of midazolam 15mg and alcohol 0.5g/kg on subjective measures of CNS activity, psychomotor performance and car driving ability were investigated in eight healthy female volunteers. One hour following treatment with midazolam and midazolam + alcohol, critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT) was significantly depressed and subjects perceived themselves as feeling more sedated when compared to treatment with placebo or alcohol alone. Perceived ease of getting to sleep (GTS) was also improved by midazolam and the midazolam + alcohol combination. Stimulus processing time was significantly increased at one hour after treatment by midazolam taken in conjunction with alcohol, thus resulting in an overall increase in total reaction time. On the morning following administration, both "on the road" assessments of car driving ability and laboratory tests of psychomotor performance were unaffected by any of the treatment conditions. Midazolam 15mg was found to be an effective sleep inducer with no evidence of residual or "hangover" effects, although the drug's hypnotic activity may be augmented by social doses of alcohol.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes