Central nervous system side-effects of antihistamines in schoolchildren.
There are no studies available in the literature on the effects of classical antihistamines on the central nervous system (CNS) in children. Clinical studies indicate that somnolence occurs more often with classical antihistamines than with placebo. There is no difference in inducing somnolence in children between placebo and astemizole or terfenadine, two new antihistamines that have thoroughly been shown to have no sedative effect greater than placebo in adults. A double-blind, cross-over trial investigating the CNS-effects of astemizole and chlorpheniramine in schoolchildren failed to show a negative effect of either of these drugs on performance.
Dept. of Paediatrics, University of Ottawa, Canada.
W
W
Feldman
A
A
Shanon
L
L
Leiken
A
A
Ham-pong
R
R
Peterson
D016589:Astemizole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D016589:Astemizole