Journal of Psychopharmacology

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

SAGETRACK

Click here for more information

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Veldhuijzen, D. S.
Right arrow Articles by Volkerts, E. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Veldhuijzen, D. S.
Right arrow Articles by Volkerts, E. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
This version was published on November 1, 2006
Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 20, No. 6, 782-788 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881106061101
© 2006 British Association for Psychopharmacology

Acute and subchronic effects of amitriptyline 25mg on actual driving in chronic neuropathic pain patients

Dieuwke S. Veldhuijzen

Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Albert J.M. van Wijck

Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Joris C. Verster

Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

J. Leon Kenemans

Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Helmholtz Research Institute, Department of Psychonomics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Cor J. Kalkman

Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Berend Olivier

Edmund R. Volkerts

Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

The acute and subchronic effects of low doses nocturnally administered amitriptyline were compared to placebo in a double-blind crossover randomized study on driving ability and driving-related skills involving seven chronic neuropathic pain patients. Performance testing occurred at the first and last day of each 15-day drug administration period, which was preceded by a 6-day washout phase. A standardized method of measuring driving ability, the on-the-road driving test, was performed on all visits. Patients were instructed to drive with a steady lateral position while maintaining a constant speed of 95km/h. The primary outcome of the driving test is the Standard Deviation of Lateral Position (SDLP, cm), which is an index of weaving of the car. At the first treatment day, driving performance was significantly impaired in patients after nocturnal administration of 25mg amitriptyline compared to placebo. The increase in SDLP of 3cm was higher than the increment generally observed with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5mg/ml or higher, the legal limit for driving in many countries. Also, reaction times on a memory test were significantly increased, indicating worse performance after acute treatment of amitriptyline compared to placebo. In contrast, after 2 weeks of treatment, no significant differences were found between amitriptyline and placebo, suggesting that tolerance had developed to the impairing effects of amitriptyline.

Key Words: amitriptyline • driving • SDLP • neuropathic pain • psychomotor performance • cognition

References

  • Amado-Boccara I, Gougoulis N, Poirier Littré M F, Galinowski A, Lôo H (1995) Effects of antidepressants on cognitive functions: a review . Neurosci Biobehav Rev 19: 479–493 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Atkinson J H, Slater M A, Wahlgren D R, Williams R A, Zisook S, Pruitt S D, Epping-Jordan J E, Patterson T L, Grant I, Abramson I, Garfin S R (1999) Effects of noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressants on chronic low back pain intensity . Pain 83: 137–145 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Barbone F, McMahon A D, Davey P G, Morris A D, Reid I C, McDevitt D G, MacDonald T M (1998) Association of road-traffic accidents with benzodiazepine use . Lancet 352: 1331–1336 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Beekman A T, Deeg D J, Van Limbeek J, Braam A W, De Vries M Z, Van Tilburg W (1997) Criterion validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D): results from a community-based sample of older subjects in the Netherlands . Psychol Med 27: 231–235 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Davis J L, Lewis S B, Gerich J E, Kaplan R A, Schultz T A, Wallin J D (1977) Peripheral diabetic neuropathy treated with amitriptyline and fluphenazine . JAMA 238: 2291–2292 .[Abstract]
  • Deptula D, Pomara N (1990) Effects of antidepressants on human performance: a review . J Clin Psychopharmacol 10: 105–111 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Dworkin R H, Backonja M, Rowbotham M C, Allen R R, Argoff C R, Bennett G J, Bushnell M C, Farrar J T, Galer B S, Haythornthwaite J A, Hewitt D J, Loeser J D, Max M B, Saltarelli M, Schmader K E, Stein C, Thompson D, Turk D C, Wallace M S, Watkins L R, Weinstein S M (2003) Advances in neuropathic pain: diagnosis, mechanisms, and treatment recommendations . Arch Neurol 60: 1524–1534 .[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Hanlon J T, Schmader K E, Landerman L R, Horner R D, Fillenbaum G G, Pieper C F, Wall W E Jr, Koronkowski M J, Cohen H J (1997) Relation of prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use to cognitive function among community-dwelling elderly . Ann Epidemiol 7: 87–94 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Hindmarch I (1997) The effects of antidepressants on psychomotor function with particular reference to reboxetine . Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 7: S17–S21 .
  • Jex H R, McDonell J D, Phatak A V (1966) Critical tracking test for manual control research . IEEE Trans Hum Fac Electron 7: 138–145 .
  • Kingery W S (1997) A critical review of controlled clinical trials for peripheral neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndromes . Pain 73: 123–139 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Knegtering H, Eijck M, Huijsman A (1994) Effects of antidepressants on cognitive functioning of elderly patients . Drugs Aging 5: 192–199 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Leveille S G, Buchner D M, Koepsell T D, McCloskey L W, Wolf M E, Wagner E H (1994) Psychoactive medications and injurious motor vehicle collisions involving older drivers . Epidemiology 5: 591–598 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Louwerens J W, Brookhuis K A, O'Hanlon J F (1986) Several antidepressants' acute effects upon actual driving performance and subjective mental activation. In O'Hanlon J F, de Gier J J (eds), Drugs and Driving. Taylor and Francis, Philadelphia .
  • Louwerens J W, Gloerich A B M, De Vries G (1987) The relationship between drivers' blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and actual driving performance during high speed travel . In Noordzij P C, Roszbach R (eds), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam.
  • McCleane G (2003) Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain . CNS Drugs 17: 1031–1043 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • McGwin G, Sims R V, Pulley L, Roseman J M (2000) Relations among chronic medical conditions, medications, and automobile crashes in the elderly: a population-based case-control study . Am J Epidemiol 152: 424–431 .[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • McNair D M, Lorr M, Droppleman L F (1971) Edits Manual for the Profile of Mood States. Educational and Industrial Testing Service, San Diego .
  • McQuay H J, Tramer M, Nye B A, Carroll D, Wiffen P J, Moore R A (1996) A systematic review of antidepressants in neuropathic pain . Pain 68: 217–227 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Max M B (1994) Treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: antidepressants . Ann Neurol 35: S50–S53 .
  • Melzack R (1975) The McGill Pain Questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods . Pain 1: 277–299 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • O'Hanlon J F, Haak T W, Blaauw G J, Riemersma J B (1982) Diazepam impairs lateral position control in highway driving . Science 217: 79–81 .[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Ramaekers J G (2003) Antidepressants and driver impairment: empirical evidence from a standard on-the-road test . J Clin Psychiatry 64: 20–29 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Ray W A, Fought R L, Decker M D (1992) Psychoactive drugs and the risk of injurious motor vehicle crashes in elderly drivers . Am J Epidemiol 136: 873–883 .[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Robbe H M J, O'Hanlon J F (1995) Acute and subchronic effects of paroxetine 20 and 40mg on actual driving, psychomotor performance and subjective assessments in healthy volunteers . Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 5: 35–42 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Schmand B, Lindeboom J, van Jarskamp F (1992) Manual for the Dutch Reading Test for Adults. Swets & Zeitlinger B.V., Lisse, the Netherlands .
  • Seppälä T, Strömberg C, Bergman I (1984) Effects of zimeldine, mianserin and amitriptyline on psychomotor skills and their interaction with ethanol: a placebo controlled cross-over study . Eur J Clin Pharmacol 27: 181–189 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Spielberger C D (1983) Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-form Y). Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA .
  • Stein R A, Strickland T L (1998) A review of the neuropsychological effects of commonly used prescription medications . Arch Clin Neuropsychol 13: 259–284 .[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Sternberg S (1966) High speed scanning in human memory . Science 153: 652–654 .[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Thompson P J (1991) Antidepressants and memory: a review . Hum Psychopharmacol 6: 79–90 .
  • Thompson P J, Trimble M R (1982) Non-MAOI antidepressant drugs and cognitive functions: a review . Psychol Med 12: 539–548 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Volz H, Sturm Y (1995) Antidepressant drugs and psychomotor performance . Neuropsychobiology 31: 146–155 .[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Ware J E, Snow K K, Kosinski M, Gandek B (1993) SF-36 Health Survey manual and interpretation guide. The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA .
  • Wechsler D (2000) Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York-III: Psychological Corporation. Dutch translation. Swets & Zeitlinger B.V., Lisse, the Netherlands .
  • Wysenbeek A J, Klein Z, Nakar S, Mane R (1988) Assessment of cognitive function in elderly patients treated with naproxen. A prospective study . Clin Exp Rheumatol 6: 399–400 [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?



This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Veldhuijzen, D. S.
Right arrow Articles by Volkerts, E. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Veldhuijzen, D. S.
Right arrow Articles by Volkerts, E. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?