Alleviation of induced vertigo. Therapy with transdermal scopolamine and oral meclizine.

Abstract

Twelve healthy subjects received seven-day treatments on a randomized, double-blind, crossover basis, of a transdermal scopolamine system, oral meclizine, and placebo, separated by one-week intervals. Just prior to each treatment, and on days 1 and 7 of each treatment, subjects received two warm (44 degrees C) caloric irrigations of each external auditory canal. Following each irrigation, subjects rated their vertigo symptoms. Subjects reported on their side effects daily throughout each treatment period. Vertigo symptoms on day 1 of treatment were significantly less with transdermal scopolamine than oral meclizine or placebo and on day 7 were significantly less with both scopolamine and meclizine than the placebo. On day 1, meclizine did not reduce vertigo symptoms significantly when compared with the placebo. Drowsiness was greater with use of oral meclizine than transdermal scopolamine.

• Authors: L G Schmitt, J E Shaw
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 112 Issue 1 Pg. 88-91 (Jan 1986) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3940518 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Meclizine
• Scopolamine

Topics

• Dehydration (chemically induced)
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Double-Blind Method
• Ear Canal (physiopathology)
• Female
• Hot Temperature (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Meclizine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation
• Scopolamine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Skin Absorption
• Sleep Stages (drug effects)
• Time Factors
• Vertigo (drug therapy, etiology)