Citation

Sellers EM. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1974; 1974: 271-293.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper discusses the extent and source of inter-individual variations in metabolic fate of drugs other than alcohol upon driving skills. Serum concentrations are better predictors of therapeutic effect of toxicity than dose for many drugs. The evidence is best for drugs with easily measurable and points of clinical efficacy, and worst with psychotherapeutic agents. Paradoxically, serum concentration measurements will be of greatest use eventually where direct measurements of therapeutic effect or toxicity is most difficult. The design of future studies of drug effects on driving skills should be based on a greater awareness of the metabolic fate and pharmacologic actions of the experimental drugs. (MW)