TRAZODONE AND TRIAZOLAM - ACUTE SUBJECT RATED AND PERFORMANCE-IMPAIRING EFFECTS IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

The present study compared the acute subject-rated and performance-imp airing effects of trazodone and triazolam in seven healthy humans. Tra zodone (50, 100 and 200 mg), triazolam (0.125, 0.25, 0.50 mg) and plac ebo were administered orally in a double-blind, crossover design. Drug effects were measured approximately 30 min before drug administration and repeatedly afterwards for 6 h. Trazodone and triazolam produced d ose-related increases in subject-ratings of drug effect and sedation. The absolute magnitude of trazodone's and triazolam's effects was comp arable across these measures, which suggests the doses tested were equ ivalent on some behavioral dimension. By contrast, triazolam, but not trazodone, increased subject ratings of ''dizzy'', ''excited'', ''nerv ous'', ''restless'', ''stomach turning'' and ''itchy skin''. Triazolam , but not trazodone, significantly impaired learning, recall and perfo rmance. The present findings suggest trazodone may be a viable alterna tive to benzodiazepine hypnotics like triazolam, especially when needi ng to minimize drug-induced impairment. Future research could extend t he present findings by replicating them in a clinically relevant popul ation such as individuals with histories of drug abuse.