Children's school performance is not impaired by short-term administration of diphenhydramine or loratadine.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a second-generation H1 antihistamine produces less sedation in children and permits greater learning in a school setting than a classic antihistamine.


METHODS
Sixty-three 8- to 10-year-old children who had histories of seasonal allergic rhinitis but had no symptoms at the time of the study were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: placebo, diphenhydramine, or loratadine. Medications were administered on 3 of 4 study days, twice 6 hours apart, while participants attended a laboratory school. Classroom testing at the end of each school day evaluated the children's retention of curriculum material. Potential sedative effects were additionally evaluated by self-report of somnolence and computerized reaction-time testing.


RESULTS
No treatment-related differences emerged on the verbal instruction score, reading test score, reaction time, or somnolence scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Learning and response time in children attending a laboratory school were not significantly affected by either antihistamine.
Bender
B G
BG
National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA.
McCormick
D R
DR
Milgrom
H
H
D002648:Child; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D017336:Loratadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D017336:Loratadine; D004155:Diphenhydramine