A Comparison of the Effects of (-)-Hyoscine and Amylobarbitone Sodium on Measurements of Post-Rotational Turning Sensation and Nystagmus
June Brand · Acta Oto-Laryngologica · 1969
Following the reports of earlier workers an experiment was carried out to assess the possible value of cupulometric techniques both in elucidating the mechanism of action of anti-motion sickness drugs and in screening new drugs for possible anti-motion sickness effect. The drugs used were (-)-hyoscine and amylobarbitone sodium because although both have central depressant properties in common only (-)-hyoscine has been shown to be consistently effective against motion sickness.There was some evidence to suggest that (-)-hyoscine shortened the duration of post-rotational turning sensation and that both drugs reduced the time constant of decay of post-rotational nystagmus. However, both these effects could well be attributable to generalised depression of the central nervous system. Any more specific pharmacological action was obscured both by habituation effects and idiosyncrasy of individual response: these factors render such tests of doubtful value in the screening of anti-motion sickness drugs.