Effects of two antihistamine-containing compounds upon performance at three altitudes.

PDFTech ReportAM 68-15DOT/FAA/AM-68/15Air pilotsAntihistaminesPhysiological aspectsAltitudePerformanceDrug effectsPlacebosHeart rateTemperatureBlood analysisAminesPerformance testsOxygenMotor skillsExperimentsHuman subject testingUnited StatesCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteHiggins, E. ArnoldDavis, Audie W.Fiorica, VincentIampietro, P.F.Vaughan, John A.Funkhouser, Gordon E.United States. Office of Aviation MedicineNTL-AVIATION-AVIATIONNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsUS Transportation CollectionIn a study of 45 human subjects it was determined that a compound drug containing the antihistamine phenindamine did not statistically impair performance on a modified Mashburn coordinator. Another compound containing the antihistamine chlorpheniramine did impair performance. Performance was also impaired by increasing altitudes. The combined effects of the chlorpheniramine compound and increased altitude proved more detrimental to performance than the sum of the decrements that each influence caused when encountered separately. Although no significant performance decrement resulted from the administration of the phenindamine compound, undesirable side-effects were noted