Driving ability after intravenous fentanyl or diazepam. A controlled double-blind study

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Imaging
• Pharmacology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Increasing use of outpatient radiologic procedures necessitates understanding post-procedure patient recovery.
• Sedation and analgesia in outpatients can impair their ability to drive or resume normal activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of fentanyl, diazepam, and placebo on driving ability in young volunteers.
• To assess the safety of driving after common analgesic and sedative medications used in outpatient settings.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving young volunteers administered fentanyl (100 mcg), diazepam (7.5 mg), or placebo.
• Driving ability was quantitatively measured using a thacometer, assessing speed and accuracy at 30 and 120 minutes post-administration.

Main Results:

• Both fentanyl and diazepam significantly impaired driving speed and accuracy compared to placebo.
• Fentanyl demonstrated a more pronounced impairment of driving ability than diazepam at both time points.

Conclusions:

• Fentanyl and diazepam negatively impact driving performance, posing risks for outpatients.
• The thacometer-based study design is effective for evaluating the driving safety of patients after analgesic and sedative medications.