Saccadic eye movements in determination of the residual effects of flunitrazepam.

Saccadic eye movements and the subjective assessments of the volunteers were used in the determination of the residual effects of a single evening dose of flunitrazepam 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg or placebo. Sleep inducing and maintaining effects were subjectively assessed, too. Flunitrazepam at all three dose levels possessed sleep inducing and increasing effects (n = 9), but in the number of nocturnal awakenings and sedation in the morning (10 hrs after drug intake), no significant differences between placebo and the active medications were reported. However, saccadic eye movement recording could differentiate the residual effects produced by placebo or the active medication. No correlation was detected between the serum levels (radioreceptor assay) and saccadic eye movement recordings.