The effects of amoxapine and ethanol on psychomotor skills related to driving: A placebo and standard controlled study

• 1.

  1. Eight normal male volunteers were tested under eight different treatment conditions: amoxapine 50 and 100 mg, amitriptyline 50 mg. and placebo—each condition with and without ethanol—(1.3 g/kg body weight), utilizing a double-blind repeated measures latin square design balanced for carry-over. Motor reflex, pursuit rotor and depth perception tests were conducted when blood levels of the active drugs and alocohol were simultaneously at or near peak.

• 2.

  2. Analyses revealed significant effects of amitriptyline and ethanol on the motor reflex and pursuit rotor but not for depth perception tests, and the effects of ethanol appeared to be potentiated by amitriptyline on the pursuit rotor test; this was not true for amoxapine.

• 3.

  3. Although the effects of 100 mg of amoxapine were consistently greater than for 50 mg or placebo, these differences did not reach a statistical significant level.

• 4.

  4. Since amoxapine did not differ significantly from placebo, these results suggest that the effects of amoxapine on driving skills may not be as pronounced as those produced by amitriptyline.