Citation

Richens A, Mercer AJ, Jones DM, Griffiths A, Marshall RW. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1993; 36(1): 61-65.

Affiliation

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8373713

PMCID

PMC1364556

Abstract

1. Peak saccade velocity provides a valuable means of assessing the sedative effect of drugs in humans. The present study investigated the effects of zolpidem, an imidazopyridine hypnotic, on saccade velocity in healthy volunteers after single and repeated administration. 2. Zolpidem 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg significantly and dose dependently depressed peak saccade velocity during the 1.5 h after a single administration. On the morning after zolpidem administration, peak saccade velocity had returned towards pretreatment levels. Nitrazepam 10 mg also significantly depressed peak saccade velocity but the effect was maintained the following morning. The saccade response to zolpidem (5 and 10 mg) was undiminished after the seven nightly doses. 3. Nightly administration of zolpidem improved subjective sleep quality and there was no evidence of rebound insomnia following cessation of drug treatment.

Language: en