The effects of alprazolam, quazepam and diazepam on saccadic eye movements, parameters of psychomotor function and the EEG

Abstract

The effects of a single oral dose of alprazolam (1 mg), quazepam (15 mg) and diazepam (10 mg) on the peak saccadic velocity (PSV) of saccadic eye movements (SEM), the Sternberg memory scanning and choice reaction time (SMS-CRT), critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF), spectral analysis of the EEG and a mood scale were assessed in 9 healthy volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Alprazolam revealed greater sedative effects than diazepam in the above-mentioned tests. Quazepam had the least sedative effect of the 3 drugs tested, showed a time lag at the onset of its effects and a more prolonged effect on psychomotor impairment than reported previously.