A double-blind, parallel investigation was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of transdermally delivered scopolamine hydrobromide in acute vertigo as compared to meclizine hydrochloride and placebo. Statistical analysis of subjective patient responses and clinical observations suggested that both scopolamine and meclizine are more effective than placebo. Both have significant, but different, side effects.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WeingartnerHCillinJC. Human serial learning: Enhancement with arecholine and choline and impairment with scopolamine. Science1978; 201: 274–6.
2.
BeardGM. The treatment of sea-sickness: Its relationship to medical etiquette on shipboard. Br Med J1880; 2: 162.
3.
BrandtTDichgansJWagnerW. Drug effectiveness on experimental optokinetic and vestibular motion sickness. Aerosp Med1974; 45: 1291–2.
4.
ShawJEBayneWSchmittLG. Clinical pharmacology of scopolamine. Clin Pharmacol Ther1976; 19: 15–9.
5.
McCauleyMERoyalJWShawJE. Effect of transdermally administered scopolamine in preventing motion sickness. Aviat Space Environ Med1979; 50: 1108–11.
6.
MaxwellC. Sensitivity and accuracy of the visual analogue scale: A psycho-physical classroom experiment. Br J Clin Pharmacol1978; 6: 15–24.
7.
KirstenEBSchoenerEP. Action of anticholinergic and related agents on single vestibular neurons. Neuropharmacology1973; 12: 1167–77.
8.
KirstenEBSchoenerEP. Motion modulated vestibular neurons: Central versus peripheral effects of cholinergic blocking agents. Experientia1975; 31: 575–6.
9.
MatsuokaIDominoEFMorimotoM. Effects of cholinergic agonists and antagonists on nucleus vestibularis lateralis unit discharge to vestibular nerve stimulation in the cat. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1975; 80: 422–8.
10.
JongkeesLBWPhilipszoonAF. Some nystagmographical methods for the investigation of the effect of drugs upon the labyrinth. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Neerl1960; 9: 240–75.
11.
GutnerLBGouldWJBattermanRC. Action of dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and other drugs on vestibular function. Arch Otolaryngol1951; 53: 308–15.
12.
SchmittLGShawJEMcGuireJ. Efficacy of oral meclizine and transdermally delivered scopolamine in alleviating induced vertigo. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, New Orleans, March 19–21, 1981.
