The Interaction Between Ethanol and Antihistamines 1: Dexchlorpheniramine

Body sway and the effects of psychoactive drugs — a review

“…Four studies were performed with 0-54g/kg, at the University of Sydney, Australia, and all but one showed a significant increase in sway. (Franks et al, 1978(Franks et al, , 1979Belgrave et al, 1979 a,b).…”

“…Three of the most sedative compounds with potent H I antihistaminic properties, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine and amitriptyline, all consistently increased body sway. Drugs with anticonvulsant properties (phenytoin, amylobarbitone, meproba- Franks et al, 1976Franks et al, 1977Seppala et al, 1982Starmer and Bird, 1984Linnoila et al, 1984Hill et al, 1982 Linnoila et ol., 1984Scott et al, 1982Franks et al, 1975Franks et al, 1976Crawford et al, 1976Franks et al, 1981Bond and Lader, 1986Franks et al, 1978Franks et al, 1976Franks et al, 1979Belgrave et al, 1979aBelgrave et al, 1979bLinnoila et al, 1984Scott et al, 1982Bond and Lader, 1986Scott et al, 1982 Seppala et al, 1982Castleden et al, 1987Castleden et al, 1987Mattila et al, 1984McClelland 1987bNicholson et al, 1988Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Briggs et al, 1980Swift et al, 1987aMattila et al, 1984Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Hill et al, 1982 mate, tetrahydrocannabinol) also increased sway. Psychostimulants/ cerebral activating drugs (dexamphetamine, caffeine, Hydergine and denbufylline) all showed no significant effect on sway.…”

Investigating drug‐ethanol interactions.

“…We have carried out studies of drug-ethanol interactions for a number of reasons including epidemiological evidence for increased crashrisk (e.g. Bird et al, 1980;MacPherson et al, 1984), where preparations are suggested to ameliorate the inebriant effects of ethanol or to make comparisons among drugs which are used for essentially the same therapeutic purposes (Franks et al, 1978(Franks et al, , 1981.…”

“…gradation of effects ranging from impairment when diphenhydramine and promethazine were given alone (Belgrave et al, unpublished observations) through either considerable or slight ethanol-interactive effects with dexchlorpheniramine (Franks et al, 1978) and mebhydrolin (Franks et al, 1981) to no evidence for any interaction with clemastine (Franks et al, 1979). It was also shown that disodium cromoglycate, which is also used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, has no adverse effects on performance when given alone and did not interact with ethanol (Crawford et al, 1976).…”

The therapeutic index of antihistamines

“…The resultant impairment in psychomotor performance may have serious consequences, particularly as there is no consistent relationship between subjective symptoms and objective psychomotor changes (20)(21)(22). Furthermore, antihistamines potentiate the sedative effects of alcohol and CNS depressants, such as minor tranquillizers (23,24), which may have serious consequences for factory workers and car drivers (25,26).…”