Drug effects on psychomotor skills related to driving: Interaction of atropine, glycopyrrhonium and alcohol

Both atropine and glycopyrrhonium shortened reaction time and either left co-ordination unaffected or slightly improved, and the combination of anticholinergics and alcohol further impaired attention whilst leaving reaction times and co-ordinate unaffected.

Abstract

Atropine 0.5 mg and glycopyrrhonium 1.0 mg in combination with alcohol or a placebo drink were administered double blind to 170 healthy young volunteers, and certain psychomotor skills were measured by a choice reaction test, two coordination tests, and an attention test. The drugs were administered 30 min before the test and the tests were repeated 90 and 150 min after dosing. Both atropine and glycopyrrhonium shortened reaction time and either left co-ordination unaffected or slightly improved. Anticholinergics or alcohol alone impaired attention. The combination of anticholinergics and alcohol further impaired attention whilst leaving reaction times and co-ordination unaffected. The interaction of atropine and alcohol differed only slightly from that of glycopyrrhonium and alcohol.