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Effect of meptazinol and ethanol on human psychomotor performance and mood ratings.

The effect of meptazinol and/or ethanol on human psychomotor performance and mood ratings has been investigated in 8 healthy volunteers in a double blind randomised study. Meptazinol (200 mg 3 hourly for 4 doses) or placebo were administered orally and ethanol (0.8 g/kg) or placebo were given 30 min after the last tablet. Peak saccadic velocity (PSV), saccade duration at 30 degrees of amplitude (SD), smooth pursuit velocity (SPV), critical flicker fusion threshold (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT) and visual analogue scales were assessed. PSV (p less than 0.01), SD (p less than 0.001) and SPV (p less than 0.01) were significantly impaired after ethanol, while CFF, CFT and visual analogue scales showed no significant effect. None of the tests was affected by the meptazinol treatment alone. No changes were observed in the ethanol-induced impairment of PSV, SD and SPV when meptazinol was given in combination with ethanol.

Adult↗

Effects of bepotastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and olopatadine on histamine-induced wheal-and flare-response, sedation, and psychomotor performance.

Although many antihistamines are now in clinical use, few studies directly compare their pharmacodynamic and sedative activities in humans in vivo. We designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to compare the inhibitory effects of bepotastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and olopatadine on histamine-induced flare-and-wheal response. Systemic sedative effects and impaired psychomotor activities by these drugs were also evaluated. Bepotastine (10 mg twice a day), cetirizine (10 mg once a day), fexofenadine (60 mg twice a day), and olopatadine (5 mg twice a day) or placebo was given in a double-blind manner to seven healthy volunteers before histamine challenge by iontophoresis. At 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h following the oral administration of these drugs, histamine iontophoresis-induced wheal-and-flare response was measured. Sedative effects by the drugs were also evaluated by a visual analogue scale for subjective sedation, and by word processor test for psychomotor activity. Each volunteer was tested with all of the drugs (including placebo), administered in a random order with a washout period of at least 1 week. Histamine iontophoresis induced marked wheal-and-flare response in all participants. Bepotastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and olopatadine yielded significant reduction of histamine-induced wheal-and-flare response compared to placebo (P < 0.01). Among the drugs, olopatadine and cetirizine suppressed most markedly and persistently histamine-induced wheal-and-flare response, while bepotastine and fexofenadine produced a significant, but less persistent suppression. Olopatadine, fexofenadine, and cetirizine showed a significant systemic sedative effect in this order with bepotastine showing the least sedative effect. Moreover, olopatadine affected psychomotor performance most markedly, which was followed by fexofenadine and cetirizine. These results indicate that bepotastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and olopatadine inhibit histamine-induced wheal-and-flare response of humans in vivo and induce a variable systemic sedative effect and impaired psychomotor activity. Although olopatadine and cetirizine showed the strongest and most persistent suppression of histamine-induced wheal-and-flare response, olopatadine showed a considerable sedative effect with impaired psychomotor performance.

Adult↗

Impact of melatonin, zaleplon, zopiclone, and temazepam on psychomotor performance.

INTRODUCTION: Modern military operations may require pharmaceutical methods to sustain alertness and facilitate sleep in order to maintain operational readiness. In operations with very limited sleep windows, hypnotics with very short half-lives (e.g., zaleplon, t(1/2) 1 h) are of interest, while with longer sleep opportunities, longer acting agents (e.g., zopiclone, temazepam (t(1/2) 4-6 hours) may be used. This study was designed to compare the effect of a single dose of zaleplon, zopiclone, temazepam, and melatonin on psychomotor performance and to quantify the post-ingestion time required for return to normal performance. METHOD: There were 23 subjects (9 men, 14 women), 21-53 yr of age, assessed for psychomotor performance on 2 test batteries (4 tasks) that included a sleepiness questionnaire. Psychomotor testing was conducted prior to, and for 7 h after, ingestion of a single dose of each of placebo, zaleplon 10 mg, zopiclone 7.5 mg, temazepam 15 mg, and time-released melatonin 6 mg. The experimental design was a double-blind cross-over with counter-balanced treatment order. RESULTS: Zaleplon, zopiclone, and temazepam impaired performance on all four tasks: serial reaction time (SRT), logical reasoning (LRT), serial subtraction (SST), and multitask (MT). Melatonin did not impair performance on any task. The time to recovery of normal performance for SRT during the zaleplon, zopiclone and temazepam conditions were 3.25, 6.25, and 5.25 h respectively; for LRT were 3.25, >6.25, and 4.25 h; for SST were 2.25, >6.25, and 4.25 h, and for MT were 2.25, 4.25, and 3.25 h. The recovery time to baseline subjective sleepiness levels for zaleplon, zopiclone, temazepam, and melatonin were 4.25, >6.25, 5.25, and >4.25 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of a prolonged period of perceived sleepiness, melatonin was superior to zaleplon in causing no impact on performance. The remaining drugs listed in increasing order of performance impact duration are zaleplon, temazepam, and zopiclone.

Acetamides↗

Lack of interaction between a new antihistamine, mizolastine, and lorazepam on psychomotor performance and memory in healthy volunteers.

1. The possible interaction between a new H1 antihistamine, mizolastine, and lorazepam was assessed in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study involving 16 healthy young male volunteers who received mizolastine 10 mg or placebo once daily for 8 days with a 1 week wash-out interval. The interaction of mizolastine, at steady-state, with a single oral dose of lorazepam or placebo was assessed on days 6 or 8 of each treatment period. 2. Psychomotor performance and cognitive function were evaluated using objective tests (critical flicker fusion threshold, choice reaction time, tapping, arithmetic calculation, body sway) and self-ratings (visual analogue scale, ARCI) before and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing. Short-term memory (Sternberg memory scanning immediate free recall of a word list) and long-term memory (delayed free recall and recognition of words and pictures) were assessed before and at 3 h after dosing. Pharmacodynamic interactions were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA in a 2 x 2 factorial interaction model. 3. Mizolastine, 10 mg once daily, at steady-state, was devoid of sedation and detrimental effect on skilled performance and memory. 4. In contrast, a single 2 mg dose of lorazepam produced marked impairment of psychomotor performance, cognitive functions (significant reduction in flicker fusion threshold, tapping and arithmetic calculation and increase in reaction times and body sway) and subjective sedation from 2 to 8 h after dosing. In addition, lorazepam induced an anterograde amnesia, characterised by a decrease in delayed free recall and recognition, and a deficit in short term memory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Visuo-spatial attention and psychomotor performance in elderly community residents: effects of age, gender, and education.

In cross-sectional analysis of 1,799 subjects of the Paquid Research Program, an epidemiological study on brain aging conducted in the Bordeaux area (France), we have studied the effects of age, gender, and education level on psychometric tests requiring visuo-spatial focused attention and psychomotor performance. Although previous studies suggest that normal aging produces no significant change in focused attention, we did observe lower attentional abilities and lower speed of execution with increasing age. Female gender and low education level were also related to poorer attention and psychomotor performance. As the effects of these individual factors are difficult to disentangle from each other on the small samples of subjects used in group studies, epidemiological surveys seem useful to provide a better understanding of the neuropsychology of aging.

Age Factors↗

Acute and chronic effects of hypoglycemia on cognitive and psychomotor performance.

The acute and chronic effects of hypoglycemia on cognitive and psychomotor performance are reviewed. Studies involving pediatric and adult subjects, both with and without diabetes were evaluated. The preponderance of studies suggest that hypoglycemia can be an unintended yet frequent result of treatment of patients with IDDM. Significant cognitive and psychomotor deficits were reported even with mild episodes of hypoglycemia. Early age of diabetes onset and frequent episodes of hypoglycemia were found to be highly related to significant deficits in intellectual and academic performance. Patients evidencing performance deficits did not always report symptoms of hypoglycemia. Recovery of cognitive functioning lagged restoration of euglycemia but typically returned to baseline levels of performance. Recommendations for improved patient care are provided.

Cognition↗

Caffeine use: is there a net benefit for mood and psychomotor performance?

We agree with the conclusions of a recent article in this journal [James, Neuropsychobiology 1994;30:124-125] that studies on the psychoactive effects of caffeine need to take into account the possibility that the results obtained might represent merely the reversal of deleterious effects of caffeine deprivation rather than an actual net benefit due to caffeine use. However, in a review of recent studies we find no unequivocal evidence of impaired psychomotor performance associated with caffeine withdrawal. This is in contrast to a clear deterioration of mood which occurs even after overnight caffeine deprivation. We concluded that current evidence points to true performance-enhancing effects of caffeine, although the extent of these and the conditions under which caffeine is most effective have yet to be fully determined. At the same time, the existence of significant detrimental effects of caffeine deprivation on psychomotor performance has not been ruled out.

Affect↗

The effect of G-LOC on psychomotor performance and behavior.

Acceleration (+Gz) induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) and its effect upon cognitive and motor performance were evaluated in seven male volunteers who were exposed to closed-loop acceleration exposures at the Naval Air Warfare Center--Aircraft Division, Warminster (NAWCADWAR) human centrifuge (DFS). The +Gz profile consisted of several aerial combat environment simulations (ACES) of up to +12 Gz. In the event of G-LOC, the DFS was brought down to a base +Gz level. As the subject recovered consciousness, he was required to complete various tasks to regain control of the aircraft. Psychomotor performance was measured before, immediately after, and 20-40 min post-G-LOC. These tasks included: 1) extinguishing master caution signals initiated upon G-LOC by an observer; 2) entering a control code on a head-down display to initiate DFS trim mode; and 3) matching own aircraft altitude, airspeed and heading to that of a displayed target. Absolute (6 +/- 2 s), relative (5 +/- 3 s) and total (12 +/- 3 s) incapacitations were briefer than those reported in the literature. The time intervals to execute the performance tasks tended to be longer for post-G-LOC than for pre-G-LOC. Recovery of psychomotor performance, as measured in this study, occurred approximately 60 s post G-LOC. There were no performance decrements during those tasks assigned 20-40 min after G-LOC.

Acceleration↗

Neurological signs and psychomotor performance in patients with schizophrenia, their relatives and healthy controls.

Schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R) were consecutively recruited and 39 were included. Twenty-one were first-episode and 18 were chronic schizophrenic patients. Thirty of the patients were on neuroleptic medication. Thirty-three parents were included, of whom nine were classified as 'family history positive' and 22 as 'family history negative' of a disposition to psychosis. Fifty-five healthy controls volunteered. The subjects were investigated according to a protocol divided into neurological signs and psychomotor performance (finger-tapping rate, Purdue pegboard test, pronation-supination test, gait and hand-grasp strength). Seventy-eight percent of the patients and 7% of the controls were classified as globally aberrant in signs. The patients and their parents, classified as 'family history positive', exhibited a similar laterality pattern in a finger-tapping test improving performance with the preferred hand, significantly different from the performance of the 'family history negative' parents and normal subjects. Duration of illness, neuroleptic medication and negative symptoms were not related to the occurrence of neurological signs and psychomotor performance. These findings indicate that neurological aberrations are present at the onset of illness and that hereditary factors are associated with motor laterality.

Acute Disease↗

Lormetazepam effects on daytime vigilance, psychomotor performance and simulated driving in young adult healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the residual effects of lormetazepam on daytime vigilance, psychomotor performance and simulated driving in adult healthy volunteers. MATERIAL: Twelve subjects (7 women, 5 men), aged 27 - 38 years (mean 31). METHOD: Subjects received lormetazepam 1 mg tablet and placebo for 3 days at nighttime in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, with a 1-week interval between medications. On the morning following the last drug administration, the subjects completed a 15-min battery of neuropsychological tests aimed at assessing memory and attention, performed simple and choice visual reaction times, and self-rated their own level of sleepiness using the Epworth sleepiness scale. Afterwards, an interactive, computer-based driving simulator (STISIM) was used to assess the effect of the study drugs on driving ability, followed by the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). RESULTS: The findings showed that participants had similar performance when treated with lormetazepam and placebo. Indeed, as compared with baseline, neuropsychological tests, visual reaction times, sleep latency using the MSLT and driving ability showed no deterioration following either placebo or active medication. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that 3-day use of lormetazepam 1 mg/day neither influences daytime vigilance nor impairs psychomotor task performance and simulated driving. Results confirm previous evidence that the intermediate-acting hypnotic benzodiazepine lormetazepam is devoid of residual effects in respect to psychomotor ability. However, caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the results due to the limited sensitivity of the study.

Adult↗

Psychomotor performance in healthy young adult volunteers receiving lormetazepam and placebo: a single-dose, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Lormetazepam is a hypnotic benzodiazepine currently used in the treatment of insomnia. When this agent is used appropriately, its pharmacologic properties predict a high therapeutic index with a good tolerability profile. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects on psychomotor performance of lormetazepam and placebo in healthy young adult subjects. A secondary objective was to evaluate the clinical tolerability of lormetazepam. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled, crossover study in healthy young adult volunteers. All volunteers received single doses of lormetazepam 1 mg and placebo, with a 1-week interval between doses. The primary study variables were visual simple reaction time (VSRT) and visual choice reaction time (VCRT), measured before dosing with lormetazepam or placebo and at 20, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 360 minutes after dosing using a standard computerized apparatus. To increase the sensitivity of the results, visual reaction times were also recorded using a validated mobile computerized device. Secondary variables were the duration and quality of sleep on the night before each study session, rated by subjects using a 100-mm visual analog scale; the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for daytime drowsiness; and the Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold test. Spontaneously reported adverse events were recorded and monitored throughout the study. RESULTS: The study included 18 healthy young adult volunteers (12 women, 6 men; mean [SD] age, 26.7 [2.8] years [range, 21-30 years]; mean body weight, 58 [9.5] kg). There were no significant differences in either VSRT or VCRT after administration of lormetazepam or placebo. Independent of study drug but consistent with the accepted range of variability between the 2 devices, overall reaction times were significantly shorter with the use of the mobile device compared with the standard apparatus (P < 0.01). Analysis of the results showed no sequence effects or other evidence of learning. There were no changes in the secondary study variables after administration of the test drugs. Administration of lormetazepam was associated with dizziness in 2 subjects, in 1 case occurring in association with somnolence. These adverse events were mild and subsided spontaneously 3 hours after drug intake. After administration of placebo, 1 subject reported slight somnolence 60 minutes after dosing that persisted through 180 minutes. CONCLUSION: In this small, selected group of healthy young adult subjects, a single dose of lormetazepam 1 mg did not affect psychomotor performance, assessed in terms of visual reaction times, compared with placebo.

Adult↗

Loratadine: a non-sedating antihistamine. Review of its effects on cognition, psychomotor performance, mood and sedation.

Although equally potent at blocking the H1 receptor, first- and second-generation antihistamines can be distinguished with respect to their different effects on the central nervous system (CNS). First-generation antihistamines readily cross the blood-brain barrier leading to significant drowsiness, altered mood, reduced wakefulness, and impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance. This paper reviews of studies CNS functioning conducted with loratadine, a second-generation H1-receptor antagonist, at its therapeutic dose of 10 mg per day. Studies employing self-report measures, such as diary cards, visual analogue scales, rating scales, and mood inventories have shown that the effect of loratadine on somnolence, fatigue, and mood was comparable to those found with placebo. In studies exploring physiological indices of CNS functioning, such as EEG-evoked potentials, and sleep latency tests, loratadine has been shown to be free of CNS effects. In addition, studies have investigated the effects of loratadine on actual driving performance, and on tests of cognitive and psychomotor functioning. On all of these performance measures, loratadine has been shown to have effects comparable to placebo. In contrast, diphenhydramine, a common first-generation antihistamine, usually available without a doctor's prescription, has significant adverse effects on vigilance, divided attention, working memory and psychomotor performance. Impairment has been shown to occur even in the absence of self-reported sleepiness.

Affect↗

Mood and psychomotor performance effects of the first, but not of subsequent, cup-of-coffee equivalent doses of caffeine consumed after overnight caffeine abstinence.

Moderate caffeine consumers (n = 64, mean caffeine intake 453 mg/day) were deprived of caffeine overnight and semi-randomly allocated to four treatment groups, designated PPP, CPP, CCP and CCC, where P is placebo and C is caffeine (1.2 mg/kg, giving an amount of caffeine similar to that consumed in a serving of ground coffee). Caffeine or placebo (i.e. no caffeine) were administered double-blind in novel fruit juice drinks at 10:15, 11:30 and 13:00 h on the test day. Before (baseline), and 45 min after each of these times the participants completed a mood questionnaire and begun psychomotor performance tests lasting 25 min (1-min tapping task, and a long-duration simple reaction time task (SRT). Caffeine significantly increased energetic mood and improved psychomotor performance relative to placebo. Caffeine had particularly marked effects on SRT performance, ameliorating the slowing of performance with time on task and removing the post-lunch dip in performance. However, the three caffeine treatments, CPP, CCP and CCC, were equally effective. That is, mood and performance were improved to the same extent by one, two and three spaced doses (totalling 86, 172 and 258 mg) of caffeine. This result is consistent with previous findings indicating a flat dose-response relationship for the psychoactive effects of caffeine; and because of the adverse effects (e.g. fatigue) associated with overnight caffeine deprivation, it suggests that there is little net benefit to be gained from frequent caffeine use. At the very least, it appears that the psychostimulant effects of caffeine cannot on their own account for the typical pattern of consumption of caffeine-containing drinks.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of renal function and psychomotor performance in workers exposed to elemental mercury.

Renal function and psychomotor performance (eye-hand coordination, arm-hand steadiness) of a group of 43 workers exposed to mercury vapor were examined. Their mean age an average duration of exposure to mercury were 38 and 5 years, respectively. The results were compared with those in a matched group of 47 control workers. Increased proteinuria and albuminuria were found slightly more prevalent in the Hg-exposed group than in the control workers. These results are in agreement with those found during a previous study carrier out in another group of workers also exposed to elemental mercury (Buchet et al. 1980). The scores of the psychomotor tests were less satisfactory in the Hg workers than in the control workers, the arm-hand steadiness test being more discriminative than the eye-hand coordination test. Preclinical changes in psychomotor function can be detected independently of the presence of signs of renal dysfunction. No clear-cut relationships were found between the prevalence of abnormal psychomotor scores and the level of mercury in blood (HgB) or in urine (HgU). Increased prevalences of abnormal psychomotor scores seem however to occur for HgB between 1 and 2 micrograms/100 and for HgU between 50 and 100 micrograms/g creatinine. Therefore, a biologic threshold limit value of 50 micrograms/g creatinine in proposed for urinary mercury to prevent the development of preclinical effects on the central nervous system. A similar critical HgU level based on renal dysfunction prevalences has been suggested in a previous study.

Adult↗

Effects of verapamil and nifedipine on psychomotor performance in human subjects.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of two structurally dissimilar calcium channel blockers, verapamil (a phenylalkylamine) in a single dose of 40 and 80 mg, and nifedipine (a dihydropyridine) in a single dose of 10 and 15 mg, on psychomotor performance and higher mental functions in human volunteers. Placebo and diazepam (5 mg) were used as negative and positive controls respectively. For evaluating these functions, tests employed were arithmetic ability, visual and auditory reaction time, letter (alphabet) cancellation, rapid fire arithmetic deviation and short term memory for playing cards. Careful record was kept of the heart rate, blood pressure and side effects of the therapy, each time the psychomotor tests were performed. Verapamil, both in 40 and 80 mg dose, was found to impair the performance of subjects to a significant extent in auditory reaction time, letter cancellation and short term memory. These effects were similar to those observed with administration of diazepam. With nifedipine, impairment in performance was observed only in rapid arithmetic deviation test. Thus, calcium channel antagonists, specially verapamil, impaired psychomotor performance of human subjects in our study.

Adult↗

Effects of meal composition on blood alcohol level, psychomotor performance and subjective state after ingestion of alcohol.

Moderating effects of meal composition on psychomotor performance impairment and feelings after alcohol were examined in a between-subjects design. Fifty-one male volunteers fasted or received either a high carbohydrate (85% energy) or a high protein (94% energy) meal. Alcohol was administered at a dose to achieve a blood alcohol level (BAL) of 60 mg/100 ml, as a placebo. Subjects performed a dual task of primary tracking and secondary reaction time and a five-choice reaction time task. Feelings were also assessed by rating. The high carbohydrate meal reduced BAL at peak and 2 h after drinking, but a high protein meal had no significant effect. Although performance was impaired by alcohol, neither meal significantly reduced impairment and there was no effect of meal type on performance in the placebo condition. However, alcohol increased rated intoxication and the high carbohydrate meal reduced this effect. Subjects who had consumed high protein meals had more negative affect 2 h after alcohol than did subjects who had consumed high carbohydrate meals or fasted. It is concluded that there is only a weak relationship between BAL and performance impairment and food has only limited effects on impairment, although it reduces BAL.

Adolescent↗

Effects of benzodiazepines on psychomotor performance.

1 The literature relating to the effects of benzodiazepines on psychomotor performance is critically reviewed. 2 The multiple and diverse psychomotor tests used are assessed according to their ability to demonstrate differences between drugs. 3 Three general conclusions are: (1) The speed with which simple acts of a repetitive nature are performed may be impaired by benzodiazepines. (2) learning and immediate memory will also be impaired. (3) there is relatively little indication that well established higher mental faculties are adversely involved.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗