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document
Acute and subchronic effects of levocetirizine and diphenhydramine on memory functioning , psychomotor performance , and mood . BACKGROUND Central nervous system adverse effects , such as sedation , often accompany the use of first-generation antihistamines . These effects might interfere with memory functioning and psychomotor performance . Levocetirizine was recently introduced as a new antihistamine said to be free from sedative effects . OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the effects of levocetirizine ( 5 mg ) , diphenhydramine ( 50 mg ) , and placebo on memory and psychomotor performance after acute ( day 1 ) and subchronic ( day 4 ) daily administration in 48 healthy volunteers ( 24 men and 24 women ) . METHODS This study was a double-blind , placebo-controlled , randomized clinical trial . Treatments were administrated on days 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 , 3 hours before the start of the laboratory test battery ( performed on days 1 and 4 ) , comprising a word-learning test , the Sternberg Memory Scanning Test , a tracking test ( easy and hard version ) , and a divided attention test ( tracking and memory scanning simultaneously ) . Statistical analyses were performed separately for days 1 and 4 by using analysis of variance . RESULTS On day 1 , diphenhydramine significantly impaired tracking performance ( easy : F ( 1,90 ) = 25.9 , P < .0001 ; hard : F ( 1,90 ) = 20.5 , P < .0001 ) and divided attention ( tracking : F ( 1,90 ) = 23.8 , P < .0001 ; memory scanning : F ( 1,90 ) = 22.0 , P < .0001 ) . Results on word-learning tests and Sternberg Memory Scanning Tests were not significantly impaired . On day 4 , the effects of diphenhydramine did not reach significance . In contrast , on both days 1 and 4 , levocetirizine did not significantly impair laboratory test performance . CONCLUSION The results show that memory , attention , and tracking performance are unaffected after acute and subchronic administration of levocetirizine ( 5 mg ) , whereas diphenhydramine ( 50 mg ) significantly affected divided attention and tracking after acute administration .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
levocetirizine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diphenhydramine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Levocetirizine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
levocetirizine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diphenhydramine
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Intervention_Control
and placebo
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Physical
diphenhydramine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diphenhydramine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
levocetirizine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
levocetirizine
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diphenhydramine
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Outcome_Mental
memory functioning , psychomotor performance
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Outcome_Mental
mood
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Outcome_Mental
memory and psychomotor performance
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Outcome_Mental
tracking performance
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Outcome_Physical
divided attention
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Outcome_Physical
memory scanning
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Outcome_Mental
word-learning tests
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Outcome_Mental
Sternberg Memory Scanning Tests
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Outcome_Other
laboratory test performance
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Outcome_Mental
memory
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Outcome_Mental
attention
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Outcome_Mental
tracking performance
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Outcome_Mental
divided attention
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Outcome_Mental
tracking
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Participant_Condition
48 healthy volunteers ( 24
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Participant_Sex
men
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Participant_Condition
and 24
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Participant_Sex
women
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Participant_Condition
) .