Psychopharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Dose-dependent retrograde facilitation of verbal memory in healthy elderly after acute oral lorazepam administration.
Retrograde facilitation (RF) refers to a paradoxical phenomenon in which recall of information presented before acute administration of agents generally associated with anterograde amnestic and sedative effects, such as benzodiazepines, is enhanced relative to a placebo condition. However, it is unclear whether this effect occurs in elderly individuals and if it is influenced by plasma drug levels, baseline cognitive function, or genetic factors such as the APOE e-4 allele, that may modulate drug-induced cognitive toxicity. ⋯ In healthy elderly, acute oral lorazepam administration resulted in dose-dependent RF, which was associated with greater anterograde amnestic and sedative effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Thermoregulatory effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans.
Although 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) has been reported to cause fatal hyperthermia, few studies of the effects of MDMA on core body temperature in humans have been conducted demonstrating increased body temperature. In rats, MDMA causes hyperthermia at warm ambient temperatures but hypothermia at cold ones. ⋯ Unlike findings in rats, MDMA increased core body temperature regardless of ambient temperature in humans. These increases appeared related to increases in metabolic rate, which were substantial. These findings warrant further investigations on the role of MDMA and other stimulants in altering metabolism and thermogenesis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A double-blind, placebo- and positive-internal-controlled (alprazolam) investigation of the cognitive and psychomotor profile of pregabalin in healthy volunteers.
Pregabalin potently and selectively binds to the alpha(2)-delta subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, reducing calcium influx and modulating release of downstream excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate. Pregabalin has demonstrated robust efficacy for several disease states, but its neuropharmacology is still being elucidated. ⋯ Pregabalin did not differ on most assessments from placebo, producing only minor, transient impairment on some objective cognitive and psychomotor measures, suggesting a relatively benign CNS side-effect profile.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does modafinil activate the locus coeruleus in man? Comparison of modafinil and clonidine on arousal and autonomic functions in human volunteers.
Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting drug which is likely to activate some wakefulness-promoting and/or inhibit sleep-promoting neurones in the brain. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a wakefulness-promoting noradrenergic nucleus whose activity can be "switched off" by the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, leading to sedative and sympatholytic effects. ⋯ Clonidine exerted sympatholytic and sedative effects, whereas modafinil had sympathomimetic and some alerting effects. Modafinil may activate noradrenergic neurones in the LC involved in arousal and pupillary control, without affecting extracoerulear noradrenergic neurones involved in cardiovascular and salivary regulation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Dronabinol and marijuana in HIV(+) marijuana smokers: acute effects on caloric intake and mood.
No studies to date have directly compared the tolerability and efficacy of smoked marijuana and oral dronabinol in HIV(+) marijuana smokers. ⋯ These data suggest that for experienced marijuana smokers with clinically significant muscle mass loss, both dronabinol (at acute doses at least four to eight times the current recommendation) and marijuana produce substantial and comparable increases in food intake without producing adverse effects.