Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of antihistamines, chlormezanone and alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving

  • Originals
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effects of diphenhydramine, meclastine, and chlormezanone, alone or in combination with alcohol, on psychomotor skills related to driving have been investigated in 300 healthy volunteers. A choice reaction test and two coordination tests were employed. — Diphenhydramine caused sedation, partly independent of the dose, and slightly impaired psychomotor performance. Some subjects were exceptionally sensitive to diphenhydramine induced impairment of skills. It enhanced the effects of alcohol. — Meclastine did not impair psychomotor performance. A 1.5 mg dose did not enhance the effects of alcohol, but 3 mg did, although it was less potent than 50 mg of diphenhydramine. — Chlormezanone 200 mg had a relaxing effect which became apparent as a shortened reaction time at 30 min. Chlormezanone 400 mg did not affect psychomotor performance, nor did it enhance the effects of alcohol on psychomotor skills.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Biehl, B.: Experimentell-psychologische Studien über ein neues Antihistaminikum. Med. Welt12, 652–657 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bruener, H., Jovy, D., Klein, K.E.: Der Einfluß einiger verkehrsmedizinisch wichtiger Pharmaka auf die menschliche Leistungsbereitschaft. Arzneimittel-Forsch.11, 995–1000 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Costello, C.G.: Drugs: research tools in the investigation of disorders of motivation and affect. Can. Psych. Ass. J.7, 835–840 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Doenicke, A., Kleinert, H.: Drugs, alcohol and driving efficiency. Med. Klin.62, 834–840 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Eklund, K.: Selvitys ajokyvyntutkimusvaunun käytöstä, Taljan tutkimuksia19, 1–111 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Friend, D.G.: Sedatives and tranquillizers in general medical practice. Drugs of Choice, pp. 253. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Friesewinkel, H.: Neurogen-musculäre Hemmsubstanzen. Med. Klin.56, 1484–1507 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Goldberg, L.: Alcohol, tranquillizers and hangover. Quart. J. Stud. Alcohol., suppl.1, 37–56 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goodman, L.S., Gilman, A.: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 4 ed., pp. 640. London: Macmillan 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hughes, F.W., Forney, R.B.: Comparative effects of three antihistamines and ethanol on mental and motor performance. Clin. Pharm. Ther.5, 417–421 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hussarek, M.: Nachweis der Antihistaminwirkung bei nasalen Allergien mittels Doppelblindstudie. Mschr. Ohr. Lar. Rhi.2, 61–66 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Häkkinen, S.: Traffic accidents and driver characteristics. A statistical and psychological study. Helsinki: Teknillinen Korkeakoulu 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jäättelä, A., Männistö, P., Paatero, H., Tuomisto, J.: The effects of diazepam or diphenhydramine on healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacologia21, 202–211 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kielholz, P., Goldberg, L., Im Obersteg, J., Pöldinger, W., Ramsayer, A., Schmid, P.: Fahrversuche zur Frage der Beeinträchtigung der Verkehrstüchtigkeit durch Alkohol, Tranquilizer und Hypnotika. Dtsch. Med. Wschr.94, 301–306 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Landauer, A.A., Milner, G.: Drugs and Driving, pp. 64. Basle: S. Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Linnoila, M., Mattila, M.J.: Drug interaction on psychomotor skills related to driving: diazepam and alcohol. Europ. J. clin. Pharm. to be puplished (1972).

  17. Miller, J.G.: Objective measurements of the effect of drugs on driver behaviour. J. Amer. med. Ass.179, 940–943 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Patman, J., Landauer, A.A., Milner, G.: The combined effect of alcohol and amitriptyline on skills similar to motor car driving. Med. J. Aust.8, 946–949 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rosenthal, D., Imber, S.D.: The effects of mephenesin and practice on the Bender-Gestalt performance of psychiatric outpatients. J. clin. Psych.11, 90–92 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Tieliikennevahingot v. 1970 (Road Trafic Accidents in 1970), Statistic report, Central Statistical Office of Finland (1971).

  21. Wagner, H.-J., v.: Die medikamentöse Beeinflussung der Leistungsfähigkeit und ihre Bedeutung für die Verkehrssicherheit. Münch. med. Wschr.101, 275–282 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wagner, H.-J. v.: Überprüfung des Leistungsverhaltens unter Einwirkung verschiedener Antihistaminika. Arzneimittel-Forsch.11, 1065–1070 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Linnoila

Authors
  1. M. Linnoila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Linnoila, M. Effects of antihistamines, chlormezanone and alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 5, 247–254 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00567013

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00567013

Key words

Search

Navigation