title: The effects of Benadryl and Hismanal on psychomotor performance and perceived performance.
abstract: Classic antihistamines (H1 antagonists) have sedative effects and can impair psychomotor performance. It is claimed that Hismanal (astemizole) does not possess central nervous system side effects. A three-factor, repeated measures, double-blind design was used to compare the effects of single oral doses of (1) Benadryl (diphenhydramine)-50 mg, (2) Hismanal-10 mg, and (3) placebo on a battery of 11 cognitive information-processing tasks and performance ratings in 28 healthy men. Performance decrements were seen at 1 h post-Benadryl ingestion on Following Directions (p < 0.05), at 1.5 h on Unstable Tracking (p < 0.05), and at 3 h on serial addition/subtraction (p < 0.05). No decrements in performance were found post-Hismanal. Subjects perceived their performance as poorer following Benadryl ingestion versus placebo and Hismanal for 3 h postingestion (p < 0.05). Results demonstrate performance effects post-Benadryl ingestion for 1 h longer than previously reported. Tasks which demonstrated sensitivity to antihistamines were those which required an element of sustained attention and those which required a visual-motor response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016589:Astemizole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016589:Astemizole; D004155:Diphenhydramine