This study investigates the effects of Allergic Rhinitis (AR) on driving ability and memory functions. Our group has previously shown that patients suffering from AR symptoms perform less well on tasks requiring sustained attention compared to non symptomatic controls. Car driving is a typical behavior that is susceptible for changes in sustained attention and might therefore become worse under conditions when patients suffer from AR symptoms. We will compare the driving performance of untreated, symptomatic AR patients with the performance of symptomatic patients that have been treated with either a systemic AR medication (a pill) or a topical medication (nasal spray)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
22
cetirizine 10 mg over encapsulated
nasal spray 25ug per dose
a placebo nasal spray and placebo capsule are available for double dummy treatment
Maastricht University
Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Standard Deviation of Lateral Position (SDLP) in highway driving
Standard Deviation of Lateral Position (SDLP) is the amount of "weaving" that occurs when a person is driving in a straight line on the highway and instructed to maintain a steady speed and position within the lane he/she is driving
Time frame: 2:00 - 3:00 hrs post dosing
Word Learning Test (WLT-15) verbal memory score
Subjects are presented with a list of 15 words at a rate of one word/second with a pause between words of one second. Immediately following the presentation subjects are asked to recall and name as many words as possible. The total number of words recalled after three repeated presentations of the same list of words is the outcome variable
Time frame: 2:30 hrs post dosing
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