Histamine H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine impairs working memory processing speed, but not episodic memory.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The histaminergic neurotransmitter system is currently under investigation as a target for drug treatment of cognitive deficits in clinical disorders. The therapeutic potential of new drugs may initially be screened using a model of histaminergic dysfunction, for example, as associated with the use of centrally active antihistamines. Of the selective second generation antihistamines, cetirizine has been found to have central nervous system effects. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cetirizine can be used as a tool to model cognitive deficits associated with histaminergic hypofunction.

Experimental approach

The study was conducted according to a three-way, double-blind, cross-over design. Treatments were single oral doses of cetirizi

SUBMITTER: van Ruitenbeek P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2989595 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature