Impact of sedating antihistamines on safety and productivity

The use of sedating antihistamines by allergy sufferers remains common, and physicians continue to prescribe these older anti-histamines with great fr equency. Precautionary statements Warning of possible drowsiness and the ne ed for caution when driving or operating machinery, which are required for sedating antihistamines, don't appear to be having much impact. Sedating an tihistamines are frequently found to be a causal factor in fatal traffic ac cidents and are the leading medication found on autopsy of pilots who have crashed their aircraft. Patients taking sedating antihistamines frequently don't feel sleepy, yet they have difficulty staying awake and their brain f unctioning is impaired. The impact on safety is found in the increased risk of traumatic work-related injuries, driving accidents, and aviation fatali ties. The cognitive and psychomotor deficits translate into losses in worke r productivity and student learning.