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IMPAIRMENT OF PERFORMANCE BY ALCOHOL AND DIAZEPAM

NCJ Number
64016
Journal
Zeitschrift fuer Rechtsmedizin Volume: 82 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 327-336
Author(s)
J LUTZE; H GELBKE; G SCHMIDT
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND DIAZEPAM ALONE AND IN COMBINATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF 65 STUDY SUBJECTS ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
PLASMA DIAZEPAM LEVELS AND PERFORMANCE ARE MEASURED AFTER PLACEBOS, .45 G OF ALCOHOL, 10 MG OF DIAZEPAM, .45 G OF ALCOHOL AND 5 MG OF DIAZEPAM, AND .45 MG OF ALCOHOL AND 10 MG OF DIAZEPAM. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASMA DIAZEPAM LEVEL IS HIGHER AFTER INTAKE OF THE ALCOHOL-DIAZEPAM COMBINATIONS THAN AFTER INTAKE OF DIAZEPAM ALONE. THE COMBINATION OF ALCOHOL AND 10 MG OF DIAZEPAM IMPAIRS PERFORMANCE SIGNIFICANTLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST ONE AND ONE-HALF HOURS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION; ALCOHOL AND DIAZEPAM ALONE AFFECT PERFORMANCE ONLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADMINISTRATION. TEST SUBJECTS TEND TO UNDERESTIMATE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM. PERFORMANCE IS CORRELATED TO HIGH PLASMA DIAZEPAM LEVELS, BUT CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS CAN ONLY BE DETERMINED 1 TO 2 HOURS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUBSTANCES. THE EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM COMBINED WITH ALCOHOL ARE MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE EARLY STAGES AFTER ADMINISTRATION AND GRADUALLY DISSIPATE EVEN THOUGH THE DIAZEPAM LEVELS REMAIN THE SAME. THESE OBSERVATIONS SUBSTANTIATE SIMILAR FINDINGS IN LITERATURE. THE ELEVATION OF PLASMA DIAZEPAM LEVELS PRODUCED BY ALCOHOL IS ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASED RESORPTION, REDUCED ALBUMEN BINDING, A REDUCED DISTRIBUTION SPACE, AND COMPETITIVE INHIBITION OF FERMENTATION. MEDICAL EXPERTS ON BOTH DIAZEPAM PLASMA LEVELS AND TIME FACTORS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED --IN GERMAN. (KMD)

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