Affiliations: Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Professor Gülçin Kaymak Karataş, MD, Bilkent-2 Park Sitesi F5/16, 06530 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 2025209 (business); +90 312 2667904 (home); Fax: +90 312 2025235; +90 312 2129065; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: Objective:To assess if oxybutynin and tolterodine have an effect on simple reaction time in healthy volunteers. Methods:Simple reaction time was evaluated before and 90 minutes after the oral administration of oxybutynin and tolterodine in a cross-over design. Twenty seven healthy volunteers, aged 26 to 48 years, were included in the study. The electromyographic activity of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle that was used for the response was recorded, and premotor time was measured. Results:The mean age of the study group was 33.1 ± 7.4 years. Mean premotor times before oxybutynin and before tolterodine administration were statistically non-significant. Mean premotor times after the administration of oxybutynin and tolterodine were significantly longer than the initial premotor times (p = 0.003). Conclusions:The results of the study showed that oxybutynin and tolterodine prolonged the simple reaction time. The prolonged simple reaction time may suggest a perceptive impairment. The potential for perceptive impairment as a side effect of oxybutynin and tolterodine might suggest a negative impact on the rehabilitation interventions and the activities of daily living because of central nervous system effects.
Keywords: Reaction time, cholinergic antagonists, oxybutynin, tolterodine
