Effect of epinastine hydrochloride (Alesion®) on the central nervous system

It has been reported that epinastine showed less side effects such as drowsiness and lassitude compared with those of other anti-allergic drugs. To clarify these findings, effect of epinastine on sleep latency and active avoidance response in rats was studied in comparison with those of olopatadine and ketotifen. As a results, epinastine caused no decrease in sleep latency even at a dose of 50 mg/kg, p.o. In contrast, olopatadine at 50 mg/kg and ketotifen at 10 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in sleep latency. On the other hand, epinastine at 50 mg/kg showed no significant effect on active avoidance response. Olopatadine and ketotifen caused a significant prolongation of avoidance response latency, at 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively.