[Flunitrazepam and driving ability]

Major contributions to the investigation of the influence of drugs on driving ability come from experimental studies as apart from epidemiological studies. Regarding experimental studies, the results of a single study are essentially determined by the experimental design. An established assessment of the risk of a drug in regard to driving ability should not be based on either a single study or on synopses, which record only a few studies without detailed information. This article presents an overview of published studies that directly or indirectly deal with the influence of flunitrazepam on driving ability. Benzodiazepines in particular, and amongst these especially flunitrazepam are brought into connection with the impairment of driving ability. This approach emphasises differences regarding the dosages used, the experimental designs and the methods of testing. For reasons of clarity the article on flunitrazepam is subdivided into the topics of acute effects, residual effects, and effects after subchronic application. Different results are reported. A statistical analysis in terms of a meta-analysis was not carried out due to a lack of standardization of the studies.