Psychomotor test

Physiological Psychomotor tests, for example, reaction Sedatives... 

Halothane is used as a clinical anesthetic, and all levels of central nervous system depression can be expected, including amnesia, analgesia, anesthesia, and respiratory depression. Levels ranging from 5000 to 3 0,000 ppm can induce anesthesia, whereas 5000-15,000ppm can maintain it. A 30-minute exposure to 4000 ppm caused amnesia and impairment of manual dexterity, whereas similar exposure to 1000 ppm did not alter the outcome on various psychomotor tests. ... 

In humans, short-term exposure to 300 ppm was objectionable, causing headache and throat irritation 2 00 ppm caused mild irritation of eyes 100 ppm caused slight nose and throat irritation. No significant neurobehav-ioral effects (as determined by a series of psychomotor tests) were found in volunteers from 4-hour exposures to methyl ethyl ketone at 200 ppm significant odor and irritant effects were reported. ... 

Acute exposure to levels of 200,000ppm and above causes deterioration of performance on tests of reaction time it has been suggested that the threshold at which nitrous oxide starts to affect performance lies between 80,000 and 120,000ppm. Other smdies have examined the effects of trace levels of nitrous oxide on performance tests, with conflicting results. In one unconfirmed study, volunteers exposed to 50 ppm for up to 4 hours showed decrements in audiovisual performance tests. In another report, similar exposures did not produce any changes in a battery of psychomotor tests including an audiovisual task, but there was a nonsignificant trend for mood factors such as tiredness to occur. ... 

Benzodiazepine-induced sedation may be considered either a therapeutic action or a side effect. Impairment of performance on sensitive psychomotor tests has been well documented after admin-... 

Knnsman, G.W., Manno, J.E., Manno, B.R., Kunsman, C.M., Przekop, M.A. The use of microcomputer-based psychomotor tests for the evaluation of benzodiazepine effects on human performance a review with emphasis on temazepam. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 34, 289-301, 1992. 

Nefazodone substantially decreases the clearance rate for triazolam, which results in a 400% increase in triazolam s serum levels (131). Erythromycin can also interfere with the metabolism of triazolam, resulting in decreased clearance and increased plasma levels, possibly causing toxicity. Troleandomycin and other macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, flurithromycin, josamycin, midecamycin, or roxithromycin, also may inhibit triazolam s metabolism (132). The coadministration of itraconazoie and triazolam can produce a marked elevation of triazolam plasma levels associated with statistically significant impairment of psychomotor tests and a prolongation of other effects (e.g., amnesia, lethargy, and confusion) for hours after awakening ( 133). 

With regard to modafinil s effects on task performance, the drug appears to have minimal impact on simple psychomotor tests (at least in untreated narcoleptics), whereas there are tendencies toward improvement in more complex tasks requiring concentration, dexterity, and the coordination of cognitive and motor resources (215). In non-sleep-deprived normals, it has been determined that 200 mg had no effect on the performance of a digit symbol substitution test despite improved EEG activation (measured by theta/alpha ratios) for up to 6 hr postdose (219). 

The effects of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of buspirone were investigated in 10 young healthy volunteers. There was a significant reduction in the effects of buspirone in three of the six psychomotor tests used after rifampicin pretreatment. The interaction between rifampicin and buspirone is probably mostly due to increased CYP3A4 activity. Buspirone will most likely have a greatly reduced anxiolytic effect when it is used together with rifampicin or other potent inducers of CYP3A4, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine... 

Tolerance and some physical dependence occur. Transient withdrawal effects include EEG and sleep changes, impaired performance in some psychomotor tests, disturbance of mood, and increased appetite (with weight gain), though it is difficult to disentangle psychological from physical effects in these last. 

Many double-bhnd, controlled trials have been conducted with co-dergocrine in senile dementia, and almost all have reported improvements in scores on at least one psychomotor test scale. However, despite this evidence of short-term efficacy, many skeptical clinicians stiU consider it to be no better than placebo, and find support from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which a group treated with the recommended dosage of 1 mg tds for 24 weeks did not perform better after treatment than did the placebo-treated group (5). The clinical value of co-dergocrine in patients with claudication and rest pain is poorly documented. 

The acute inhalation MRL is based on a LOAEL of 175 ppm for reduced performance of psychomotor tests in a human study by Mackay et al. (1987). Individuals exposed to 175 or 350 ppm of 1,1,1-trichloroethane for 3.5 hours demonstrated impaired performance of psychomotor tests. 

Behavioral examinations (psychological tests, psychomotor tests, and cognitive-perceptual tests) of 131 workers in a rayon plant who were exposed to carbon disulfide were compared to those of 167 workers who worked in textile plants that manufactured other synthetic fibers. Exposure and companion (control) groups and exposure levels are the same as those described for the Johnson et al. (1983) study. The workers completed a checklist of symptoms characteristic of various neurobehavioral syndromes. The results showed no behavioral changes of any major significance. The rayon workers did report symptoms of neurobehavioral ailments, however. Workers were classified individually according... 

Conventional research on the nature of marijuana intoxication tells us that the primary effects are a slight increase in heart rate, reddening of the eyes, some difficulty with memory, and small decrements in performance on complex psychomotor tests. 

No effect on the human health was observed when the COHb level was less than 2%. In non-smokers, values greater than 2% of COHb (the mean value for smokers is 5% COHb) affected the central nervous system. At a 2.5% COHb level, which can result from about 90-minute exposure to 50 ppm of carbon monoxide, the ability to estimate time interval is reduced, and at about 5% of COHb reduced ability in the remaining psychomotor tests is observed. Cardiovascular changes occur at exposures leading to a formation of more than 5% COHb. 

A 3-day course of ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of a single 30-g oral dose of alcohol (75 mL of vodka) in 12 healthy subjects, nor was the performance of a number of psychomotor tests affected. ... 

The effects of isoniazid 750 mg with alcohol 0.5 g/kg were examined in 100 subjects given various psychomotor tests, and in a further 50 drivers using a driving simulator. No major interaction was seen in the psychomotor tests, but the number of drivers who drove off the road on the simulator was increased. " There would therefore appear to be some extra risks for patients taking isoniazid who drink and drive, but the effect does not appear to be large. Patients should nevertheless be warned. 

The haemodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects of atenolol and metoprolol in heaithy subjects do not appear to be changed by al-cohoi. There is some evidence that alcohol modestly reduces the haemodynamic effects of propranolol, and some of the effects of sotalol may also be changed by alcohol. Some evidence suggests that the effects of alcohol and atenolol/chlortalidone or propranolol are additive on the performance of some psychomotor tests, but the importance of this is uncertain. 

In 12 healthy subjects the performance of a number of psychomotor tests was found to be impaired by alcohol 0.6 g/kg and by one tablet of Teno-retic (atenolol 100 mg with chlortalidone 25 mg). When alcohol and Ten-ore tic were taken together there was some evidence of additive effects but the practical importance of this is not clear. ... 

In 12 healthy subjects propranolol 40 mg every 6 hours had no effect on the alcohol-induced impairment of performance on a number of psychomotor tests given 50 mL/70 kg of alcohol, except that propranolol antagonised the effect of alcohol in one test (pursuit meter). However, in another study, propranolol enhanced the effects of alcohol on some tests (inebriation and divided attention). ... 

A study in 12 healthy subjects showed that, in contrast to lorazepam, bus-pirone 10 or 20 mg did not appear to interact with alcohol (i.e. worsen the performance of certain psychomotor tests), but it did make the subjects feel drowsy and weak. - Similarly, another study in 13 healthy subjects found that combining buspirone (15 and 30 mg/70 kg) and alcohol caused sedation, but very little impairment of performance. In this study, the sedative effects were broadly similar to those seen with alprazolam plus alcohol, but alprazolam plus alcohol clearly impaired performance. Similar findings were reported in another earlier comparison with diazepam. A further study reported that single 5 to 15-mg doses of buspirone had a minimal effect on performance in both light and moderate female social drinkers. ... 

It is not known why some studies report that caffeine antagonises some of the detrimental effects of alcohol and others report no interaction. However, the type of psychomotor tests, the amount of alcohol and caffeine consumed, and the timing and administration of the caffeine may affect the results. 

Caffeine does appear to improve some of the detrimental effects of alcohol in some psychomotor tests, which is probably why there is a longstanding and time-hallowed belief in the value of strong black coffee to sober up those who have drunk too much. In addition, it is just possible that the time taken to drink the coffee gives the liver just a little more time to metabolise some of the alcohol. However, it seems that it is not effective in all aspects of alcohol impairment, particularly subjective effects. In addition, caffeine does not reduce blood-alcohol levels. Coffee and other sources of caffeine do not make it safe to drive or handle dangerous machinery, and it may even make drivers more accident-prone. 

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