Document Detail


Impairment related to blood drug concentrations of zopiclone and zolpidem compared to alcohol in apprehended drivers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19393793     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: About 3-7% of the adult population receives prescribed hypnotics. The benzodiazepine-like hypnotics, zopiclone and zolpidem, are the most commonly prescribed and may cause traffic-relevant impairment similar to that found for benzodiazepines. We investigated the relationship between blood zopiclone and zolpidem concentrations and driving impairment, as assessed by the clinical test for impairment. We compared these groups of drivers to a group suspected of alcohol-related impairment. METHODS: Blood samples from suspected impaired drivers during 2000-2007, screened for approximately 25 possible impairing drugs with only one single drug detected, were studied in relation to the assessment of impairment. The 79 zopiclone positive drivers, the 43 zolpidem positive drivers, and the 3480 alcohol positive drivers were divided into groups depending on blood drug concentrations. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: The proportion of drivers judged as impaired tended to increase the higher the blood zopiclone concentrations. Such a positive relationship was not found for zolpidem. For alcohol the proportion of impaired drivers was significantly related to blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). There were few drivers with low zopiclone or zolpidem concentrations included, which may have obscured any positive significant relationship. The percentage of impaired drivers among drivers with blood zopiclone concentrations above 130 microg/l roughly corresponded to the percentage of impaired drivers among drivers with BACs higher than 0.1%.
Authors:
Ingebjørg Gustavsen; Muhammad Al-Sammurraie; Jørg Mørland; Jørgen G Bramness
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-02-15
Journal Detail:
Title:  Accident; analysis and prevention     Volume:  41     ISSN:  1879-2057     ISO Abbreviation:  Accid Anal Prev     Publication Date:  2009 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-04-27     Completed Date:  2009-06-15     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1254476     Medline TA:  Accid Anal Prev     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  462-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway. ingebjorg.g.gustavsen@fhi.no
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alcoholic Intoxication / diagnosis,  epidemiology*
Automobile Driving / statistics & numerical data*
Azabicyclo Compounds / adverse effects,  blood*
Female
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives / adverse effects,  blood*
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Norway / epidemiology
Odds Ratio
Piperazines / adverse effects,  blood*
Pyridines / adverse effects,  blood*
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Substance Abuse Detection
Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis,  epidemiology*
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Azabicyclo Compounds; 0/Hypnotics and Sedatives; 0/Piperazines; 0/Pyridines; 43200-80-2/zopiclone; 82626-48-0/zolpidem

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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