Efficacy of histaminergic drugs in experimental motion sickness

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of the histaminergic drug "Betahistine dihydrochloride" in experimental motion sickness in 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 19.4 y.o.) with high susceptibility to motion sickness. Motion sickness was modeled using Coriolis (precession) accelerations (cumulative Coriolis stimulation test--CCST). Each subject took 32 mg of "Betahistine dihydrochloride" or placebo under "double-blind" conditions 1 hour before testing. The duration and slow phase velocity of the post-rotational nystagmus, the pursuit eye tracking test, and the latency, velocity and accuracy of saccades were estimated. The tolerability level of the CCST in volunteers in the betahistine series was shown to be significantly (p<0.001) higher, as compared to placebo and baseline. The mean illusory sensations score for the experimental series was significantly lower than that in the placebo and baseline series (p < 0.01). It was found that "Betahistine" demonstrated antimotion sickness efficacy and improved oculomotor activity (increased gain during pursuit movements, faster and more accurate saccades).