Effects of lofepramine and dothiepin on memory and psychomotor function in healthy volunteers

The effects of single doses of lofepramine (70 mg), dothiepin (50 mg) and placebo on memory and psychomotor function were compared in a cross-over study with 12 healthy volunteers. Dothiepin produced a differential pattern of effects across the range of memory assessments used, impairing episodic memory and slowing learning in a procedural task but not affecting working, semantic or implicit memory. Dothiepin also impaired performance on two attentional tasks, slowed down reaction times and increased subjective sedation. Lofepramine was similar to placebo on nearly all objective measures, but produced effects similar to dothiepin on critical flicker fusion threshold, salivary flow and most EEG wavebands. It is concluded that, unlike lofepramine, acute dosage with dothiepin is associated with sedative effects and impairments of concentration and memory. Key words: lofepramine; dothiepin; memory; psychomotor functio