In the middle of 1992, a study was concluded on the antidepressant paroxetine, a serotonin reuptake indicator. Each subject took an oral capsule dose of 20mg each morning. To identify the effects of paroxetine on performance relevant to safety, the antidepressant doxepin was used as a positive control, and a placebo was used as a negative control. The test was a double-blind, randomised comparison of independent groups of healthy volunteers. The sample consisted of 30 men and 30 women aged between 37 and 60. Performance capability was investigated for: (1) visual orientation; (2) forced concentration; (3) simple reaction time (acoustic signals); (4) choice reaction time; (5) stress tolerance; (6) vigilance; (7) eye-hand coordination. On the 20th day of administration, the effects of the test substances combined with ethanol were studied. The results were analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis of variance. Doxepin showed the most disadvantages, but paroxetine subjects also felt increased tiredness more often than the placebo subjects; however, this latter effect was not objectively demonstrated. As paroxetine seemed to have no effects on performance, different from those of the placebo, treatment with paroxetine seems to offer advantages.
Samenvatting