title: The antiallergic effects of antihistamines (H1-receptor antagonists).
abstract: Most first-generation and second-generation H1-receptor antagonists have readily demonstrable antiallergic effects in vitro, although high concentrations of some of the medications are required to inhibit mediator secretion from mast cells or basophils. These antiallergic effects can also be seen in vivo in skin, nasal, lung, and ocular challenge studies. Some H1-receptor antagonists appear to have an antiallergic effect in one organ but not in another. In many in vivo studies, doses of H1-receptor antagonists three or more times higher than those required for H1 blockade must be given to achieve the antiallergic effect. It would be premature to attempt to reclassify the H1 antagonists according to their antiallergic properties because these properties have not been investigated fully and their relative contribution to the overall therapeutic effectiveness of each H1 receptor antagonist is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000502:physiology; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1