Laboratory investigation of effect of acute doses of nomifensine on a simulated aspect of night-time car driving performance.

1. Six healthy volunteers received single doses of either nomifensine 100 mg, nomifensine 50 mg or placebo at weekly intervals in a randomized double-blind crossover study. 2. Subjects were subjected to a simulated test of car driving at night. 3. Testing lasted about 1.5 h and consisted of measuring responses to light stimuli, a modification of a test designed by Baker & Theologus (1972). 4. Nomifensine 100 mg reduced the latency of response significantly when compared with placebo (P less than 0.05). Nomifensine 50 mg had no significant effect. 5. It was concluded that nomifensine was unlikely to impair night driving performance.