title: Effects of methysergide and loratadine on food intake, mood, and performance of humans living in a residential laboratory.
abstract: The effects of loratadine, a peripherally acting histamine (H1) antagonist, and methysergide, a serotonin (5-HT) antagonist, were evaluated in seven normal-weight, male research volunteers, participating in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, 17-day residential study. Participants received oral loratadine (10 or 20 mg), methysergide (4 or 8 mg), or placebo at 1000 and 1700 hours daily. Active drug was administered on Days 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, and 16; placebo was administered on all other days. Drug and dose order were counterbalanced across participants. Food intake, performance, and subjective ratings were measured repeatedly throughout the day. Loratadine had no effect on food intake, performance, or subjective ratings. In contrast, total caloric intake significantly decreased from approximately 3500 kcal during placebo administration to 3065 kcal on the first but not the second day of methysergide administration. Consumption of carbohydrate (p < 0.055), protein, and fat decreased on the first day of methysergide administration. This decrease in food intake was due to a decrease in meal size; the number of meals consumed was not affected. The proportion of calories derived from carbohydrates significantly increased on the first day of methysergide administration. Methysergide also significantly impaired performance of a psychomotor task on the first day of high-dose administration and increased ratings of several subjective measures, including "Vomiting," "Stomach Pain," and "Miserable." These results suggest that the anorectic effect occurred as a result of the somatic and mood changes produced by methysergide. In addition, the inability of loratadine to affect food intake indicates that antagonism of central histamine receptors may be responsible for the increases in food intake produced by other antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine).
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Comer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fischman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Foltin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D017336:Loratadine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017336:Loratadine; D008784:Methysergide