Taking sedating antihistamine often included in Over-the-Counter drugs has a similar effect as hangover until the next day.  A research group led by Professor Kazuhiko Yanai at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and Associate Professor Manabu Tashiro at Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University has first acquired molecular imaging of the hangover effect caused by sedating antihistamine taken in the previous night and elucidated its mechanism using Positron Emission Tomography (PET).  It was scientifically demonstrated that an adequate attention is required not to take sedating antihistamine at the previous night when high performance is expected such as driving or taking important examinations on the next day.  The research result was published in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (Volume 30, Number 6, December 2010).  The paper’s title is “Next-Day Residual Sedative Effect After Nighttime Administration of an Over-the-Counter Antihistamine Sleep Aid, Diphenhydramine, Measured by Positron Emission Tomography.”

More Information (Japanese)

[Contact]
Professor Kazuhiko Yanai
Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
TEL: +81-22-717-8056
Ｅ-mail: yanai*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Associate Professor Manabu Tashiro
Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University
TEL: +81-22-795-7797
E-mail: mtashiro*cyric.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

(Public Relations)
Associate professor Fuji Nagami
Public Relations Office of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
TEL +81-22-717-7908, FAX: +81-22-717-8187
E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)