ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the effect of newer antihistamines on psychomotor functions in Indian population. Seventy five patient volunteers were included in the study. Volunteers were put into 5 groups based on the type of antihistamine prescribed. Group-1 volunteers included those who were prescribed no antihistamine, group-2 were prescribed first generation antihistamines, group 3, 4 & 5 were prescribed second generation antihistamines cetrizine, fexofenadine and loratadine respectively. A battery of four psychomotor function tests: critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), digit symbol substitution test (DSST), finger tapping (FT) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for day time sedation was used in the study. First generation antihistamines impaired psychomotor functions establishing the validity of psychomotor function tests chosen for the study. Second generation antihistamines did not significantly affect CFFT frequency, but DSST score was significantly reduced. Fexofenadine significantly reduced FT score. All antihistamines produced sedation except loratadine on VAS. Second generation antihistamines impaired psychomotor performance in Indian patients, however there were individual differences evident in respect to the effect of drugs.