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Central effects of the diuretic, bendrofluazide
D G McDevitt1, D Currie, A N Nicholson
1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Bendrofluazide, a diuretic, impaired specific cognitive tasks like letter cancellation and finger tapping in healthy volunteers. Oxazepam also affected attention and tapping, but neither drug altered mood or brain electrical activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Diuretics can have central nervous system effects.
- Bendrofluazide is a commonly prescribed diuretic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the central nervous system effects of bendrofluazide.
- To compare bendrofluazide's effects with oxazepam, a known sedative.
Main Methods:
- 12 healthy volunteers received single doses of bendrofluazide (2.5, 5, 10 mg), placebo, or oxazepam (15 mg) double-blind.
- Cognitive performance, subjective mood, electroencephalography (EEG), and body sway were assessed.
- A battery of tests evaluated attention, memory, and psychomotor skills.
Main Results:
- Bendrofluazide (10 mg) increased errors in letter cancellation and reduced finger tapping rate.
- Oxazepam impaired continuous attention and increased tapping pauses.
- Neither drug significantly affected subjective mood assessments.
- Bendrofluazide did not alter EEG patterns; oxazepam affected delta, theta, alpha2, and beta1 EEG activity.
Conclusions:
- High-dose bendrofluazide can impair specific cognitive and psychomotor functions.
- Central nervous system effects of bendrofluazide differ from those of oxazepam.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the neurocognitive impact of diuretics.