Effects of milnacipran on driving vigilance

BACKGROUND Many psychotropic drugs modify sensory and/or psychomotor functions involved in car driving and as such they can be a causative factor in road accidents. AIM To investigate the effects of the administration of milnacipran, a serotonin and noradrenaline dual-action antidepressant, on the sensory and psychomotor skills implicated in car driving and to determine any possible interactions with the effect of alcohol. METHODS Double-blind, placebo-controlled four-sequence cross-over design with 12 healthy volunteers. Laboratory tests designed to explore motor responses to auditory and visual stimuli and equilibrium on a sensory platform, as well as tests in a real on-road car driving situation, were carried out before the drug administration (control) and at the end of each sequence. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the results of laboratory tests between groups receiving milnacipran compared to placebo. In a real driving situation there were no significant effects of milnacipran. In addition, milnacipran did not accentuate the negative effects of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS Milnacipran, administered at 50 mg b.i.d. to healthy volunteers, does not modify the psychomotor skills required for driving.