The effect of alcohol hangover and residual zopiclone on spatial perception and driving skills
Palmroth, Riina (2019-03-28)
28.03.2019
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019043013834
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019043013834
Tiivistelmä
Driving a vehicle in a state of alcohol hangover, or with residual sedatives and hypnotics, is a frequently occurring situation. Zopiclone is the most commonly used hypnotic in Finland, often taken in the middle of the night before driving in the morning. Guidelines and legislation regarding driving under the influence of hypnotics have been suggested.
The purpose of this trial is to predict the level of impairment in driving skills present in the morning after a midnight administration of zopiclone and to compare it with that of alcohol hangover with a blood alcohol level close to zero.
Seventeen healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 35, completed this single-center partially double-blind three period single dose crossover study. Two study periods were carried out with either zopiclone 7.5 mg or placebo in a blinded manner, and one with alcohol hangover. Simulated driving and other psychomotor tests were performed to assess spatial perception and driving skills. The presence of residual zopiclone was verified with plasma samples, with a mean concentration being 30.2 ng/ml at 6.5 hours.
Zopiclone impaired driving, spatial perception and alertness at 6.5 hours, and minor effects remained until 9 hours after administration. Responses to visual stimuli were affected more than responses to auditory stimuli. Hangover with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2‰ or less did not significantly impair driving skills. The results suggest that young healthy adults should abstain from driving at 6.5 hours after zopiclone ingestion, and that it is advisable to wait at least 9 hours before driving.
The purpose of this trial is to predict the level of impairment in driving skills present in the morning after a midnight administration of zopiclone and to compare it with that of alcohol hangover with a blood alcohol level close to zero.
Seventeen healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 35, completed this single-center partially double-blind three period single dose crossover study. Two study periods were carried out with either zopiclone 7.5 mg or placebo in a blinded manner, and one with alcohol hangover. Simulated driving and other psychomotor tests were performed to assess spatial perception and driving skills. The presence of residual zopiclone was verified with plasma samples, with a mean concentration being 30.2 ng/ml at 6.5 hours.
Zopiclone impaired driving, spatial perception and alertness at 6.5 hours, and minor effects remained until 9 hours after administration. Responses to visual stimuli were affected more than responses to auditory stimuli. Hangover with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2‰ or less did not significantly impair driving skills. The results suggest that young healthy adults should abstain from driving at 6.5 hours after zopiclone ingestion, and that it is advisable to wait at least 9 hours before driving.