Reinforcing, subjective, and psychomotor effects of sevoflurane and nitrous oxide in moderate-drinking healthy volunteers.
Addiction (Abingdon, England) December 1, 1999 J P Zacny, D Janiszewski, P Sadeghi et al.
Sevoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, was tested at subanesthetic concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6%) against placebo and 30% nitrous oxide in moderate-drinking volunteers. Neither drug was chosen significantly more often than chance: nitrous oxide was chosen by 71% of subjects, and sevoflurane by 50%, 57%, and 50% at the three concentrations. Both drugs impaired psychomotor performance and altered mood, with some differences in subjective effects. Although sevoflurane did not act as a reinforcer for most participants, those who chose it reported more positive subjective effects during sampling, suggesting it can function as a reinforcer in some individuals.