ABSTRACT
We used 17 student volunteers in an experiment to investigate the effects of orally administered mebhydrolin (0.71 mg/kg), alone and in combination with ethanol (0.75 g/kg), on perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. Mebhydrolin did not significantly modify performance when given alone, but showed evidence of enhancing ethanol-induced performance deficits. Histamine challenge experiments indicated that the dose of mebhydrolin used exerted an antihistaminic effect over the period of the ethanol interaction study.
Subject(s)
Carbolines/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Indoles/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Adult , Carbolines/metabolism , Cognition/drug effects , Drug Interactions , Ethanol/blood , Histamine H1 Antagonists/metabolism , Histamine H1 Antagonists/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Motor Activity/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
Eighty paid student volunteers (35 male, 45 female) were used in an experiment to investigate the effects of a therapeutic dose of clemastine (1 mg) alone and in combination with a social dose of ethanol (0.54 g/kg) on perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. Both drugs were given orally. Clemastine did not significantly modify performance when given alone, and the performance decrements induced by ethanol were not enhanced by clemastine premedication.
Subject(s)
Clemastine/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Pyrrolidines/pharmacology , Adult , Cognition/drug effects , Drug Interactions , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Perception/drug effects , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
Thirteen paid student volunteers (9 male, 4 female) were used in a double-blind crossover experiment to investigate the effects of a therapeutic dose of dexchlorpheniramine alone, and in combination with a social dose of ethanol on perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. Both ethanol (0.75 g/kg) and dexchlorpheniramine (4 mg/70 kg) were given orally. Although a synergistic effect of dexchlorpheniramine with ethanol was only observed in some of the tests, a delayed recovery from the effects of the combination was noted. Subjective data indicated that the sedative effects of dexchlorpheniramine were more pronounced in the presence of ethanol.
Subject(s)
Chlorpheniramine/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Adolescent , Adult , Blood Glucose/analysis , Clinical Trials as Topic , Cognition/drug effects , Depression, Chemical , Double-Blind Method , Drug Synergism , Female , Humans , Lactates/blood , Male , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
Fifteen paid student volunteers (10 male, five female) were used in a double-blind crossover experiment to further investigated the effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alone and in combination with ethanol, on perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. Both ethanol (0-54 g/kg) and THC (15 MG/70 KG) WERE GIVEN ORALLY. Ethanol was not very effective in in+uencing performance but this dose of THC produced marked decrements, predominantly in the latter part of the experiment. When they were given together, an early additive effect was apparent, but later, there was a suggestion of antagonism in that subjects who received the drug combination performed better than those who were given THC along. The interaction between THC and ethanol was considered to be complex.
Subject(s)
Cognition/drug effects , Dronabinol/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Depression, Chemical , Drug Interactions , Drug Synergism , Female , Humans , Male , PlacebosABSTRACT
1. The effects of orally administered fructose (1.2 g.kg-1) and dextrose (1.2 g.kg-1) on the performance decrement induced by ethanol (1.0 g.kg-1) in a series of perceptual, cognitive and motor tests were studied in twelve healthy, paid University student volunteers using a double-blind cross-over design. Ethanol was consumed at a constant rate over 20 min and the hexoses or placebo were given approximately 40 min later. 2. The peak blood ethanol concentration was attained earlier when the subjects also received either hexose than after placebo but although its rate of fall was unaffected, significantly lower ethanol concentrations were encountered in the hexose-treated groups in the latter part of the experiment. 3. In general, the subjects were impaired to a slightly lesser degree when they received a combination of hexose and ethanol than after ethanol alone. There were no differences between the effects of fructose and dextrose. 4. The results do not support contentions that fructose is able to accelerate a return to sobriety and observed differences between hexose and placebo-treated groups were attributed to an effect on the absorption of ethanol rather than its metabolism.
Subject(s)
Cognition/drug effects , Ethanol/pharmacology , Fructose/pharmacology , Glucose/pharmacology , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Adult , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Drug Interactions , Ethanol/blood , Female , Fructose/blood , Humans , Lactates/blood , Male , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
Twelve paid student volunteers (8 male, 4 female) were used in a double-blind crossover experiment to investigate the effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) alone, and in combination with ethanol, on human perceptual, cognitive and motor functions. Both THC (10 mg/70 kg) and ethanol (0-5 g/kg) had little effect when administered alone. The combination of drugs, however, induced a significnat decrement in performance in some of the tests and this interaction was considered to be at least additive. The peak blood ethanol concentration was higher (P = 0-05) when subjects received both ethanol and THC than when they received ethanol alone.
Subject(s)
Cognition/drug effects , Dronabinol/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Depression, Chemical , Drug Synergism , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Placebos , Posture , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
Seventeen paid volunteer subjects were used in a double-blind crossover experiment to investigate the effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), alone and in combination with ethanol, on human perceptual, cognitive and motor performance. DSCG (40 mg) had little effect when given alone. When administered with ethanol (0-75 g/kg), DSCG did not significantly modify the ethanol-induced decrement in performance except in the complex reaction time test.
Subject(s)
Cognition/drug effects , Cromolyn Sodium/pharmacology , Ethanol/pharmacology , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Depression, Chemical , Drug Interactions , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Placebos , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
The effects of alcohol on human perceptual, cognitive and motor performance was assessed in a battery of tests, and the dose-response relationships for alcohol, important for the study of drug-alcohol interactions, established.
Subject(s)
Cognition/drug effects , Ethanol/administration & dosage , Motor Skills/drug effects , Perception/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Auditory Perception/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Movement/drug effects , Psychological Tests , Reaction Time/drug effects , Visual Perception/drug effectsABSTRACT
The effect of caffeine (300 mg/70 kg) on cognitive, perceptual and motor functions was investigated both alone and in combination with ethanol (0.75 g/kg) in 68 healthy student volunteers of both sexes. A test battery consisting of standing steadiness, simple and complex reaction time, manual dexterity, numerical reasoning, perceptual speed and verbal fluency was used. Placebos for both drugs were included. Caffeine was administered in decaffeinated coffee immediately after finishing drinking the alcoholic beverage. A peak plasma ethanol concentration of 92 +/- 4 mg/100 ml occurred at 40 min which was not modified by caffeine. Caffeine did not antagonise the ethanol-induced decrement in performance except in the reaction time tests. Caffeine alone caused a significant increase in body sway at 40 min.