RESUMO
The residual effects of dipotassium chlorazepate administered as either a single daily dose of 20 mg at bedtime or a divided daily dose (5 + 5 + 10 mg) were studied in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial comprising 12 out-patients. The following tests were used to determine changes in perceptual wakefulness, performance ability, fine motor skills, and coordination: critical flicker fusion test, car driving in a simulator, and the "bead and needle tests." In addition, the patients underwent a clinical assessment and also filled out a self-rating scale for judging factors related to the tests. No significant differences were found between the dosage schedules or between the active medication and the placebo. The clinical results were not dependent on the dosage schedule.
Assuntos
Ansiolíticos/administração & dosagem , Clorazepato Dipotássico/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Condução de Veículo , Clorazepato Dipotássico/farmacologia , Clorazepato Dipotássico/uso terapêutico , Esquema de Medicação , Fusão Flicker/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Destreza Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Placebos , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Tempo de Reação/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
A double blind clinical evaluation of chlorazepate (dipotassium-7-chloro-5-phenyl-2,2-dihydroxy-3-carboxy-1,2-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine), diazepam and placebo on a patient group of young students, mean age 25 years, is reported. Both drugs were significantly better than placebo and according to global assessment chlorazepate was superior to diazepam. An analysis of the main target symptom revealed better effects of chlorazepate on the following items: anxiety, feeling of muscular tension and gastro-intestinal disturbances. With respect to irritability and sleep disturbances both drugs were found to be equally effective. In patients' self-ratings chlorazepate was considered superior to diazepam in giving more alertness and less drowsiness during day time. The results are discussed with reference to EEG-studies and pharmaco-kinetic properties of chlorazepate and diazepam. Performance tests in simulated car-driving by healthy volunteers did not demonstrate any significant difference as compared with placebo. The psychophysiological eeffects, however, are more pronounced after diazepam than after chlorazepate medication.