title: Recent advances in H1-receptor antagonist treatment.
abstract: The second-generation H1-receptor antagonists terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, and cetirizine are important first-line drugs for the relief of symptoms in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or chronic urticaria and may eventually supplant the potentially sedating first-generation H1-receptor antagonists in the treatment of these disorders. Terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, and cetirizine produce an incidence of central nervous system and anticholinergic adverse effects similar to that produced by placebo. Our ability to use H1-receptor antagonists optimally has been greatly enhanced by recent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of these medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D016589:Astemizole; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017332:Cetirizine; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017336:Loratadine; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000187:drug effects; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy; D016593:Terfenadine; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D003533:Cyproheptadine; D006919:Hydroxyzine; D017336:Loratadine; D016593:Terfenadine; D016589:Astemizole; D017332:Cetirizine