The effects of two anti-vertigo drugs (betahistine and prochlorperazine) on driving skills.
1. The effects of betahistine 72 mg three times daily, prochlorperazine 5 mg three times daily and placebo taken for 3 days before testing were compared on two actual driving tasks (weaving and gap estimation) and two psychomotor tasks (reaction time and kinetic visual acuity) in normal subjects in a double-blind prospectively randomised cross-over study. 2. The psychomotor effects of betahistine could not be distinguished from those of placebo. 3. Prochlorperazine impaired driving performance causing increased carelessness and slowing on the weaving test. 4. There was little subjective appreciation of impairment whilst taking prochlorperazine.
Betts
T
T
University of Birmingham, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Harris
D
D
Gadd
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001621:Betahistine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011346:Prochlorperazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*
D001621:Betahistine; D011346:Prochlorperazine