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Ingestion of an antihistamine does not affect exercise performance
1Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799.
A single dose of sedating or nonsedating H1 receptor antagonists did not affect exercise performance. Healthy athletes showed no changes in aerobic or glycolytic work capacity after taking antihistamines.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- H1 receptor antagonists are commonly used for allergies.
- Concerns exist regarding their potential impact on physical performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of sedating and nonsedating H1 receptor antagonists on exercise performance and tolerance.
- To compare the impact of diphenhydramine and terfenadine against a placebo.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, randomized study with 12 healthy, physically active subjects.
- Treadmill tests included maximal aerobic power (MAX), submaximal steady state (SS), and high-intensity intermittent exercise (HI).
- Measured oxygen uptake, heart rate, rectal temperature, and plasma lactate concentration.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in performance measures were observed across placebo, diphenhydramine, and terfenadine conditions.
- Exercise tolerance and physiological responses remained comparable regardless of antihistamine administration.
Conclusions:
- A single oral dose of either a sedating or nonsedating H1 receptor antagonist does not impair aerobic or glycolytic exercise performance in healthy, active individuals.
- Antihistamines, at the tested doses, do not appear to compromise exercise capacity.
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