Effects of Secobarbital on Performance upon Arousal from Stage 4 Sleep

Abstract

Secobarbital or placebo was administered to six subjects in a random double-blind crossover design. The subjects were interrupted from stage 4 sleep and required to perform a battery of tests. Compared to control scores the results indicate that secobarbital had (1) a negligible effect (less than 5%) on hand tapping coordination and dynamic steadiness; (2) a slight (5–10%) performance decrement on hand tapping speed, critical tracking ability, step reaction time, step movement time, and mental arithmetic; (3) a moderate decrement (20–40%) on visual plus auditory tracking ability, and auditory tracking ability, and (4) a 12% improvement on static steadiness. Few changes were statistically significant. Performance was near normal upon morning awakening. Secobarbital appeared to adversely affect performance primarily on those tasks requiring fast reactions and skilled hand-eye coordination ability in response to unpredictable events.

Efficacy and safety of midazolam and vesparax in treatment of sleep disorders.

“…After midazolam, the patients almost without exception reported feeling refreshed and rested on awakening. In contrast, patients who had received Vesparax complained of tiredness and drowsiness, a finding which is consistent with reports by other authors describing hangover after administration of secobarbital (Bond & Lader, 1972;Borland & Nicholson, 1975;Porvin et al, 1975;Saario & Linnoila, 1976;Hink et al, 1978).…”

Arousal from sleep by emergency alarms :

“…It is likely that the performance decrements observed upon abrupt arousal from sleep may be more severe if the individual is under the influence of tranquilizing or hypnotic drugs. Potvin, et al (1975), found that the performance following arousal from stage 4 of subjects who had received secobarbital 1 to 1-1/2 hours earlier was slightly enhanced for tasks involving predictable speed and coordination.…”

“…However, 1200 mg of meprobamate at bedtime produced a decrease in REM. Secobarbital, a hypnotic prescribed to facilitate sleep, has been shown to alter sleep patterns by decreasing the time spent awake and in REM and increasing the amount of stage 2 (Potvin, et al, 1975).…”