Effects of Fexofenadine, Cetirizine and Diphenhydramine on Psychomotor Performance in Adult Healthy Volunteer
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Date
2004-10
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Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess and compare the cognitive and psychomotor effects of
fexofenadine, a newer second generation antihistamine with cetirizine, diphenhydramine and placebo
in 10 healthy adult volunteers in a double blind, randomized cross over study. Following single dose of
each drug, the volunteers were subjected to perform a series of tests of cognitive and psychomotor
performance at 1, 3 and 6 hours post dose. The test battery consisted of both subjective and objective
tests which were further grouped into instrumental and non-instrumental. Instrumental tests included
– Simple reaction time (SRT), Multiple Choice ReactionTime Task (MCRT) and Critical Flicker
Fusion frequency threshold (CFFT). The tests used in the non instrumental group were- Stanford
Sleepiness Scale (SSS), Digit Cancellation Task (DCT), Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) and
mental arithmetic tests. Fexofenadine at doses of 120 mg was not significantly different from placebo
in any of the tests used. However, as expected for a verum, all the measures were significantly
disrupted by diphenhydramine 25 mg upto 6 hours post dose. Cetirizine 10 mg has produced significant
subjective somnolence at 3 & 6 hours post dose but without any impairment of objective tests. These
results allow the conclusion that fexofenadine at its recommended therapeutic dose of 120 mg is free
from impairment effects on aspects of psychomotor function and hence can be used safely. Cetirizine
is mildly sedating though it did not impair any of the objective psychometric tests.
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Keywords
Antihistamines, Fexofenadine, Sedation, Psychomotor performance
Citation
Gupta Seema, Kapoor Bhuvneshwar, Gillani Z, Kapoor V, Gupta B M. Effects of Fexofenadine, Cetirizine and Diphenhydramine on Psychomotor Performance in Adult Healthy Volunteer. JK Science Journal of Medical Education and Research. 2004 Oct-Dec;6(4): 201-205