Biomaterial Database

Effects of terfenadine, diphenhydramine, and placebo on skills performance. 1988

H Moskowitz, and M Burns

Southern California Research Institute, Los Angeles 90066.

The behavioral effects of the antihistamines terfenadine and diphenhydramine were compared in a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study. Performance of skills deemed important in safe man-machine interactions was objectively assessed one, three, and five hours after administration of test substances. The results indicate that diphenhydramine use resulted in various degrees of impairment of the ability to perform a visual-search task, a tracking task, a divided-attention task, and a vigilance task. Terfenadine users performed as well as or better than placebo-treated subjects. No differences between terfenadine and placebo were found on a subjective evaluation scale. Diphenhydramine users consistently reported feelings of impairment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010919	Placebos	Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol.	Sham Treatment
D011597	Psychomotor Performance	The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity.	Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D004155	Diphenhydramine	A histamine H1 antagonist used as an antiemetic, antitussive, for dermatoses and pruritus, for hypersensitivity reactions, as a hypnotic, an antiparkinson, and as an ingredient in common cold preparations. It has some undesired antimuscarinic and sedative effects.	Benhydramin,Diphenylhydramin,2-Diphenylmethoxy-N,N-dimethylethylamine,Allerdryl,Benadryl,Benylin,Benzhydramine,Dimedrol,Diphenhydramine Citrate,Diphenhydramine Citrate (1:1),Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride,Diphenylhydramine,Dormin,Citrate, Diphenhydramine,Hydrochloride, Diphenhydramine
D004311	Double-Blind Method	A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment.	Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D006634	Histamine H1 Antagonists	Drugs that selectively bind to but do not activate histamine H1 receptors, thereby blocking the actions of endogenous histamine. Included here are the classical antihistaminics that antagonize or prevent the action of histamine mainly in immediate hypersensitivity. They act in the bronchi, capillaries, and some other smooth muscles, and are used to prevent or allay motion sickness, seasonal rhinitis, and allergic dermatitis and to induce somnolence. The effects of blocking central nervous system H1 receptors are not as well understood.	Antihistamines, Classical,Antihistaminics, Classical,Antihistaminics, H1,Histamine H1 Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists,Histamine H1 Receptor Blockaders,Antagonists, Histamine H1,Antagonists, Histamine H1 Receptor,Antihistamines, Sedating,Blockaders, Histamine H1 Receptor,First Generation H1 Antagonists,H1 Receptor Blockaders,Histamine H1 Blockers,Receptor Blockaders, H1,Antagonist, Histamine H1,Classical Antihistamines,Classical Antihistaminics,H1 Antagonist, Histamine,H1 Antagonists, Histamine,H1 Antihistaminics,Sedating Antihistamines
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions