Abstract
Effects of flurazepam and its two principal metabolites, hydroxyethylflurazepam and desalkylflurazepam (0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg), were studied on a delayed differentiation task in the monkey. Flurazepam (10.0 mg/kg) and hydroxyethylflurazepam (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) decreased the number of correct responses and increased response latency; effects persisted to 4 h with the highest dose. Marked impairment of performance was observed with all doses of desalkylflurazepam and effects of 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg persisted to 24 h. Evidence of a disinhibitory effect of desalkylflurazepam was demonstrated. The study would point to a consideration of both metabolites in the hypnotic effect and in the impairment of performance observed after acute ingestion of flurazepam in man.
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Bradley, C.M., Nicholson, A.N. Flurazepam hydrochloride and its principal metabolites: Behavioural studies in the monkey (Macaca mulatta). Psychopharmacology 82, 395–399 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427693
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427693