[Antidepressives and traffic safety]

The influence of paroxetine (1x20 mg/day) on safety-relevant performance was compared with the effects of doxepin (2x50 mg/day) and placebo. The medication covered a 3-week period. On day 20 of treatment, ethanol was additionally administered (0.05% BAC). The study group comprised 60 healthy male and female volunteers in the age range 37-60 years, who were assigned to the three structurally identical medication groups under randomized, double-blind conditions. The functional capacity of primary interest was investigated in seven tests to record visual orientation, forced concentration, simple reaction time, choice reaction time, reaction under stress, vigilance, and motor co-ordination. Test sessions took place before the treatment and five times during the medication phase. Paroxetine proved comparable to placebo in all cases, while in comparison with the two reference substances doxepin revealed loss of vigilance and motor coordination, as well as of concentration and the simple (acoustic) reaction time.