ANXIOLYTICS EFFECTS ON THE ACTUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF PATIENTS AND HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS IN A STANDARDIZED TEST - AN INTEGRATION OF 3 STUDIES

Effects of benzodiazepine (diazepam, lorazepam) and benzodiazepine-like anxiolytics (alpidem, suriclone) and a 5-HT-3 antagonist (ondansetron) on actual driving performance were measured in three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Subjects were healthy volunteers in two and anxious patients in the third. Treatments lasted for 8 days. Standardized testing occurred within the first full day and on the last day of treatment. No important differences existed between volunteers' and patients' baseline and/or placebo performances and both groups responded similarly to comparable drugs/doses. Benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-like anxiolytics produced marked and pervasive driving impairment, which lasted throughout treatment; but ondansetron,none.