Do anticholinergics affect reaction time? A possible impact on the course of rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess if oxybutynin and tolterodine have an effect on simple reaction time in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Simple reaction time was evaluated before and 90 minutes after the oral administration of oxybutynin and tolterodine in a cross-over design. Twenty seven healthy volunteers, aged 26 to 48 years, were included in the study. The electromyographic activity of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle that was used for the response was recorded, and premotor time was measured.


RESULTS
The mean age of the study group was 33.1 ± 7.4 years. Mean premotor times before oxybutynin and before tolterodine administration were statistically non-significant. Mean premotor times after the administration of oxybutynin and tolterodine were significantly longer than the initial premotor times (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study showed that oxybutynin and tolterodine prolonged the simple reaction time. The prolonged simple reaction time may suggest a perceptive impairment. The potential for perceptive impairment as a side effect of oxybutynin and tolterodine might suggest a negative impact on the rehabilitation interventions and the activities of daily living because of central nervous system effects.
Karataş
Gülçin Kaymak
GK
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. mgkarat@tr.net
Günendi
Zafer
Z
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003408:Cresols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003408:Cresols; D008333:Mandelic Acids; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; C005419:oxybutynin