Specific memory and sedative effects of the benzodiazepine triazolam

Abstract

Fifteen normal volunteers were administered placebo, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.500 mg of triazolam in a double- blind cross-over design. Triazolam induced robust dose-dependent impairments in explicit memory of information presented after drug administration. Subjects were unaware of their memory deficit (an impairment in meta-cognition). In contrast, memory for information presented prior to the administration of triazolam was facilitated following the administration of low doses of triazolam. Implicit memory and access to knowledge memory was unaltered by this benzodiazepine. An analysis of these results controlling for concurrent sedation as measured subjectively, through the use of self rating scales and objectively, based upon psychomotor performance, demonstrated that the amnestic effects of triazolam are largely independent of sedative effects. The pattern of memory changes induced by benzodiazepines, such as triazolam, is similar to the memory inpairment expressed in amnestic patients but unlike the pattern of impaired memory evident in dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.