title: Ritanserin versus lorazepam: a double-blind, cross-over study of reaction times in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Ritanserin, a benzydrilen-piperidine derivative, with a potent, selective and long-lasting antagonist activity on serotonin type 2 receptors, has shown anxyolitic properties and a lesser sedative profile than benzodiazepines. Ritanserin and lorazepam at therapeutical doses, were compared in eight healthy volunteers in a double-blind, cross-over study in order to detect possible different impairments of performances. Before and during the treatment, all subjects were daily submitted to a test of rapidity and regularity of response to acoustic and visual stimuli by means of an electronic device. A visual analogue scale for the self-assessment of the drowsiness degree was also administered. Ritanserin did not modify reaction times, while lorazepam significantly prolonged them. The analysis of data within treatments significantly favoured ritanserin, while between treatments there was only a trend in favour of ritanserin. The analogical scale for concentration showed a significant reduction with lorazepam, whereas for drowsiness no alteration occurred with either drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colacurcio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marini
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D016713:Ritanserin
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D016713:Ritanserin; D008140:Lorazepam