Rated performance, cardiovascular and quantitative EEG parameters during simulated instrument flight under the effect of terfenadine.
In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized two-phase cross-over study comprising 10 (5/5) male subjects the effect of oral therapeutic doses of terfenadine (Teldane, CAS 50679-08-8) on rated performance, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and the electroencephalogram of the subjects in an instrument flight (IF) procedure trainer was investigated. Terfenadine did not influence systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and the specific performance of subjects during instrument flight procedures. Under terfenadine the quantitative EEG (qEEG) showed more %alpha, especially %alpha 2 during rest and to a lesser extent during instrument flight procedures of the subjects. As a result the vigilance dynamics was increased. In the %beta band especially %beta 2 was increased only during instrument flight activities. The ratio theta/alpha was reduced during rest and during activities. Thus all these quantitative EEG indicators do not show a decrease in the level of vigilance nor are they indicative of signs of drowsiness during rest and during instrument flight activities under terfenadine. The results are discussed.