Effect of hydroxyzine on attention and memory

Abstract

A single intake of hydroxyzine 50mg was compared to placebo, with lorazepam 2 mg as a verum, in a double-blind, triple-crossover trial. Each of the nine volunteers was tested on three different days, once under each condition. At 2. h after drug intake all volunteers were assessed or reassessed for attention, immediate and delayed (30min) memory, cognitive ability and subjective feelings of anxiety and fatigue. While hydroxyzine 50 mg and lorazepam 2 mg produced a comparable level of sedation, only hydroxyzine preserved memory and attention. The testing methods were sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate clear deficiencies in attention and short-term and long-term memory with lorazepam. Subjects became some what stressed under both sedative treatments because they feared losing their cognitive abilities. Subjects had fewer complaints under hydroxyzine than under lorazepam.

Histamine H1-receptor blockade in humans affects psychomotor performance but not memory

“…The majority found no significant effects on memory (Acons et al, 2006;Bower et al, 2003;Curran et al, 1998;De Brabander, 1990;Kerr et al, 1994;Lee et al, 1988;Turner et al, 2006), whereas others did (Hindmarch et al, 2001;Katz et al, 1998;Sands et al, 1997;Vuurman et al, 1994). Two studies (Katz et al, 1998;Sands et al, 1997) found significant effects of diphenhydramine 50 mg on memory performance in Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.…”

Memory in humans is unaffected by central H1-antagonism, while objectively and subjectively measured sedation is increased

“…In addition, studies in which histamine functioning was decreased using H 1 -antagonists in humans have only occasionally assessed memory functions. Of those that did a majority found no significant effects on memory (De Brabander and Deberdt, 1990;Patat et al, 1994;Theunissen et al, 2004;Verster et al, 2003;Vuurman et al, 2004). A few investigators report significant impairments on memory performance (Gevins et al, 2002;Hindmarch and Shamsi, 2001;Volkerts et al, 1992;Vuurman et al, 1994).…”

Neurocognitive Costs and Benefits of Psychotropic Medications in Older Adults

“…After 1 dose of 50 mg of hydroxyzine, healthy volunteers show deficits in attention and reaction time compared with placebo. 160 A previous single-dose study 161 in 12 older healthy volunteers reported no memory deficits.…”