Evidence map›Paper›PMID 16767419›Full record

Trial reportPsychopharmacology2006

Stimulating effects of the antihistamine fexofenadine: testing the dopamine transporter hypothesis.

Eef L Theunissen, Marinus J P G van Kroonenburgh, Jeroen A van Deursen, Ciska Blom-Coenjaerts, Johannes G Ramaekers

Abstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Psychopharmacology, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Eef L TheunissenExperimental Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Neurocognition, Faculty of Psychology, University of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.theunissen@psychology.unimaas.nl
Marinus J P G van Kroonenburgh
Jeroen A van Deursen
Ciska Blom-Coenjaerts
Johannes G Ramaekers
Maastricht University · NLMaastricht University Medical Centre · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleFirst- and second-generation antihistamines are known to produce different degrees of sedation. However, a few studies have shown that the H1-antagonist fexofenadine produces mild stimulating effects. One hypothesis suggests that this is due to fexofenadine producing an increase in dopamine levels by blocking the dopamine transporter.

objectiveIn this study, it was investigated whether a high dose of fexofenadine blocks the dopamine transporter in the striatum. In addition, the effect of fexofenadine on cognitive performance and motor impulsivity was investigated.

methodsSixteen healthy subjects were given either placebo or fexofenadine 360 mg. The binding potential of N-w-fluoropropyl-2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-[4-iodophenyl] nortropane ([123I]FP-CIT) was measured using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Cognitive performance was measured in 40 subjects (20 placebo, 20 fexofenadine) using a digit symbol substitution test (DSST) and a stop signal task. In addition, subjective and physiological effects of fexofenadine were observed.

resultsThe SPECT data demonstrated that there was no difference in the binding potential of FP-CIT at the dopamine transporter in the striatum between the placebo- and fexofenadine-treated subjects. The behavioral results showed that fexofenadine improved performance on the DSST at T (max) of the drug. Fexofenadine did not affect motor impulsivity, subjective experience, or physiological measures.

conclusionNo evidence was provided to support the hypothesis that fexofenadine stimulates performance by blocking the dopamine transporter. The behavioral data suggest that a high dose of fexofenadine can stimulate performance in cognitive tasks.

Indexed as

AdultCognitionDopamine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHistamine H1 AntagonistsHumansMaleMiddle AgedTerfenadineTomography, Emission-Computed, Single-PhotonTropanes2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropaneDopamine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsfexofenadineHistamine H1 AntagonistsTerfenadineTropanes

Identifiers

PMID16767419
OpenAlexW2137992960

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.