Cheung B, Nakashima AM, Hofer KD. Various anti-motion sickness drugs and core body temperature changes. Aviat Space Environ Med 2011; 82:409–15.
Introduction
: Blood flow changes and inactivity associated with motion sickness appear to exacerbate
the rate of core temperature decrease during subsequent body cooling. We investigated the effects of various classes of anti-motion sickness drugs on core temperature changes.
Methods
: There were 12 healthy male and female subjects (20–35 yr old) who were given selected
classes of anti-motion sickness drugs prior to vestibular Coriolis cross coupling induced by graded yaw rotation and periodic pitch-forward head movements in the sagittal plane. All subjects were then immersed in water at 18°C for a maximum of 90 min or until their core temperature reached
35°C. Double-blind randomized trials were administered, including a placebo, a non-immersion control with no drug, and six anti-motion sickness drugs: meclizine, dimenhydrinate, chlorpheniramine, promethazine + dexamphetamine, promethazine + caffeine, and scopolamine + dexamphetamine.
A 7-d washout period was observed between trials. Core temperature and the severity of sickness were monitored throughout each trial.
Results
: A repeated measures design was performed on the severity of sickness and core temperature changes prior to motion provocation, immediately
after the motion sickness end point, and throughout the period of cold-water immersion. The most effective anti-motion sickness drugs, promethazine + dexamphetamine (with a sickness score/duration of 0.65 ± 0.17) and scopolamine + dexamphetamine (with a sickness score/duration of 0.79
± 0.17), significantly attenuated the decrease in core temperature. The effect of this attenuation was lower in less effective drugs.
Conclusion
: Our results suggest that the two most effective anti-motion sickness drugs are also the most effective in attenuating the rate
of core temperature decrease.