A multicenter, open study of the non-sedating antihistamine, terfenadine (Seldane), in the maintenance therapy of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
A multicenter open study was conducted throughout the 1984 fall pollen season to assess the possible development of tolerance or loss of efficacy to terfenadine in the maintenance therapy of patients with seasonal pollinosis. Patients with proven allergic pollinosis were entered into a 1-week initial treatment period taking terfenadine 60 mg bid and only those who responded to the initial treatment with "moderate" to "complete" relief continued on terfenadine throughout a 4 to 11-week pollen season for evaluation of continued efficacy. A total of 179 patients from five study centers were enrolled in the initial treatment period and 154 (86%) responded to terfenadine with "moderate" to "complete" relief of symptoms. Of these 154 patients who continued terfenadine treatment, approximately 90% of the patients maintained the same degree of relief throughout the pollen season. All symptoms of seasonal pollinosis including nasal congestion improved significantly the first day of treatment. This improvement in symptoms continued during the first week and remained unabated throughout the pollen season. The incidence of adverse events was low with sedation being reported by only 2.8% of patients at some time point during the study. It is concluded that terfenadine is a safe and effective non-sedating antihistamine in the maintenance therapy of seasonal allergic pollinosis and that tolerance is not noted during continued administration.
D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016593:Terfenadine
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D016593:Terfenadine