Respiratory and sedative effects of triazolam in volunteers

Two oral doses of triazolam, 0.5 mg and 0.25 mg, have been compared with placebo in respect of their effects on ventilation, ventilatory response to carbon dioxide, heart rate, arterial pressure, sedation and performance in a variety of psychological tests in 12 healthy volunteers. The study was double-blind. Although triazolam caused dose-dependent sedation it did not decrease significantly the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide. Respiratory rate was increased by triazolam. After triazolam 0.5 mg, increases in sedation score and deficits in cognitive function were still apparent 6 h after administration. Triazolam 0.25 mg produced no significant impairment of performance in any test after 3 h. The sensitivity of a number of psychological tests to triazolam has been discussed.