J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  1999 Nov;38(6):1459-1468.

The Effect of Zolpidem on the Psychomotor Performance in Healthy Volunteers

• Kim CY
• Lee CH
• Yun YK
• Ahn JH
• Lee C
• Kim SY
• Han OS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Zolpidem is known to have fewer cognitive side effects than older hypnotics. To confirm this objectively, we compared the effects of zolpidem on the psychomotor performance with those of placebo in 10 healthy volunteers. METHOD: Zolpidem and placebo were administered orally in a double-blind, two-way, single dose, cross-over design. Assessments of psychomotor performances were carried out before (1 hour) and 1.5 and 6 hours after the administration of single dose of zolpidem (10mg) or placebo. Each treatment day was separated by 1 week of washout period. The psychomotor performances were measured using Vienna Determination Unit, Vienna Reaction Unit, Vienna Signal Detection, Grooved Pegboard Test and Finger Tapping Test. The data were analyzed using two-way, repeated measures ANOVA on a crossover model.
RESULTS
The results showed that 1.5 hours after the administration, zolpidem 10mg produced markedly impaired psychomotor performance but 6 hours after, produced no significant psychomotor performance decrements on most of the psychomotor tests.
CONCLUSION
This study confirmed previous findings that zolpidem is generally devoid of adverse side effects on psychomotor performance at the next day after administration.

Keyword

Zolpidem; Benzodiazepine; Psychomotor performance

MeSH Terms

Benzodiazepines
Cross-Over Studies
Fingers
Healthy Volunteers*
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Psychomotor Performance*
Benzodiazepines
Hypnotics and Sedatives