The following is a summary of “Old versus new antihistamines: Effects on cognition and psychomotor functions” published in the October 2022 issue of Primary Care by Shamil et al.
The most popular long-term therapy approach for treating allergic disorders is antihistamines (AHs). For a study, researchers sought to learn more about how long-term AH administration affected cognitive (memory, mood, attention, sleep, and executive function) and psychomotor performance.
After receiving written informed consent, the prospective, observational study was conducted at the Dermatology OPD on adult patients with dermatological conditions who had recently been prescribed either chlorpheniramine (4 mg, BD), levocetirizine (10 mg, OD), fexofenadine (180 mg, OD), or bepotastine (10 mg, BD) for at least 28 days. At baseline, one week, and four weeks, the patient’s full medical histories, memory (as measured by the PGI memory scale), psychomotor abilities, and scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Brief Mood Introspection Scale were evaluated. Post hoc analysis was used to analyze the data after the one-way ANOVA and paired sample t-tests (P-value< 0.05 statistically significant).
A total of 22 were analyzed in chlorpheniramine group, followed by 23 for the levocetirizine group, 20 for the fexofenadine group, and 18 for the bepotastine group. While fexofenadine and bepotastine had good impacts on a variety of cognitive and psychometric tests, chlorpheniramine and levocetirizine had negative effects on cognitive and psychomotor performance. According to the study’s findings, levocetirizine and chlorpheniramine had sedative effects. However, fexofenadine did not. There was no impact on sleep in the bepotastine group. There was no discernible change in mood scores between the groups using fexofenadine, levocetirizine, and chlorpheniramine. Arousal calm and positive tiredness ratings in the bepotastine group rose after 4 weeks compared to baseline.
Fexofenedine and bepotastine, as opposed to chlorpheniramine and levocetirizine, can be prescribed to patients with dermatological illnesses, and their cognitive and psychological functions should be routinely assessed using the right tests.
Reference: journals.lww.com/jfmpc/Fulltext/2022/10000/Old_versus_new_antihistamines__Effects_on.8.aspx
