Alprazolam 0.125 mg twice a day improves aspects of psychometric performance in healthy volunteers

The effects of alprazolam (0.125 mg) taken twice a day on several cognitive and performance tasks (Pictures test, Digit-Symbol Substitution Test, Choice Reaction Time [CRT], Critical Flicker Fusion [CFF]) were investigated in healthy students. A double-blind, independent group design was used to compare placebo with alprazolam (32 volunteers in each group). After random assignment, ail subjects received placebo for 3 days (D) followed by 14 days of treatment with either alprazolam or placebo. Subjects completed a battery of tests at D-0, D-3, D-7, D-10, and D-14. D-3 performance was poorer in the alprazolamn group except for CFF values (ascending values and total values), and the only significant improvement was in total reaction time on the CRT test. However, a significant improvement in performance (except in recognition reaction time) was shown at D-7, D-10, and D-14 in the alprazolam group compared with the control group results. This study shows that repeated flow doses of alprazolam produce small improvements in some aspects of psychomotor and cognitive functions. Training effect, tolerance effect, anxiolytic effect, and changes in receptor function and/or number are discussed to explain the performance improvement.