[Vigilance behavior in interaction of the serotonin-selective antidepressant zimelidine and parenterally administered...

A randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study was carried out in 8 healthy male subjects to evaluate the interaction of (Z)-3-(4-bromphenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-3-(3-pyridyl)-allylamine-dihydrochloride-monohydrate (zimelidine, Normud) -- a new antidepressive drug -- and alcohol. New methodological approaches to the problem consisted in a parenteral application of ethanol and the introduction of the computer-assisted Oculodynamic Test -- a new multi-dimensional psychophysiological research instrument -- monitoring saccadic eye movements, choice-reaction parameters and cardiorespiratory parameters. Classical disimprovement of these parameters after ethanol infusion (equivalent to 1 mg % BEC) could be seen up to 5 h after administration. Alcohol effects were not potentiated by the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor zimelidine -- in contrary even a significant vigilance-stabilizing effect and improvement against placebo/ethanol values could be demonstrated for most of the vigilance-related parameters.