Nefazodone is a new serotonergic antidepressant that produces fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. The present study compared the acute and subchronic effects of nefazodone and the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine on driving performance, cognitive functions and daytime sleepiness. Twenty-four healthy subjects received the treatments for seven days with a seven days washout period. Measurements included a standard over-the-road driving test, a psychomotor test battery and sleep latency tests, using objective EEG recordings. The results showed that imipramine had a detrimental effect after a single dose on driving performance that diminished after repeated dosing. repeated dosing. Minor impairment of psychomotor test performance was found on both days. A single administration of both doses of nefazodone did not impair driving performance, and had also no or only minor effects on psychomotor performance. Repeated doses of nefazodone produced slight driving performance impairment. Cognitive and memory functions as measured in the psychomotor tests were modestly impaired by nefazodone. Alerting effects of single doses of nefazodone were found in the sleep latency tests. Neither drug induced daytime sleepiness. Effects on memory were significantly related to steady state plasma concentrations of both nefazodone and imipramine. (A)
Samenvatting