Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
Acute and subchronic effects of levocetirizine and diphenhydramine on memory functioning, psychomotor performance,
Joris C Verster1, Edmund R Volkerts, Armand W A A van Oosterwijck
1Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.c.verster@pharm.uu.nl
Background:
Central nervous system adverse effects, such as sedation, often accompany the use of first-generation antihistamines. These effects might interfere with memory functioning and psychomotor performance. Levocetirizine was recently introduced as a new antihistamine said to be free from sedative effects.
Objective:
We sought to investigate the effects of levocetirizine (5 mg), diphenhydramine (50 mg), and placebo on memory and psychomotor performance after acute (day 1) and subchronic (day 4) daily administration in 48 healthy volunteers (24 men and 24 women).
Methods:
This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Treatments were administrated on days 1, 2, 3, and 4, 3 hours before the start of the laboratory test battery (performed on days 1 and 4), comprising a word-learning test, the Sternberg Memory Scanning Test, a tracking test (easy and hard version), and a divided attention test (tracking and memory scanning simultaneously). Statistical analyses were performed separately for days 1 and 4 by using analysis of variance.
Results:
On day 1, diphenhydramine significantly impaired tracking performance (easy: F(1,90) = 25.9, P <.0001; hard: F(1,90) = 20.5, P <.0001) and divided attention (tracking: F(1,90) = 23.8, P <.0001; memory scanning: F(1,90) = 22.0, P <.0001). Results on word-learning tests and Sternberg Memory Scanning Tests were not significantly impaired. On day 4, the effects of diphenhydramine did not reach significance. In contrast, on both days 1 and 4, levocetirizine did not significantly impair laboratory test performance.
Conclusion:
The results show that memory, attention, and tracking performance are unaffected after acute and subchronic administration of levocetirizine (5 mg), whereas diphenhydramine (50 mg) significantly affected divided attention and tracking after acute administration.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
01:29Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:15Upper Respiratory Drugs: First and Second-Generation Antihistamines
Histamine binds to specific receptor sites, known as H1 receptors, on tissue cells, triggering inflammation and swelling. Antihistamines combat these effects by competing with histamine for these receptor sites. By...