Abstract
This study compared the effects of three treatments (two antihistamines and one placebo) on cognitive information processing, mood, subjective feelings of drowsiness, and subjective performance ratings in 28 healthy men. Evaluations were given at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 hours post ingestion. Results revealed performance decrements post diphenhydramine (benadryl) ingestion on three tasks. No decrements in performance were found post ingestion of hismanal. Subjective effects of mood were noted for both antihistamines; however, these effects were greater post benadryl. Subjects were able to determine receipt of a placebo versus an antihistamine following ingestion of either a placebo or benadryl. Results suggest that hismanal is superior to benadryl for avoidance of subjective effects and performance of information processing tasks.
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