Attenuation of cutaneous reactivity to histamine by cetirizine and dexchlorpheniramine.
A double-blind cross-over study was performed in 12 healthy female volunteers comparing cetirizine di-HCl (10 mg) and sustained release dexchlorpheniramine maleate (6 mg) with respect to attentuation of histamine-induced skin wheals and subjective central nervous system (CNS) effects. Cetirizine was significantly more effective than dexchlorpheniramine in suppressing the size of wheals from 2 to 24 h after drug administration. In fact, at 24 h cetirizine was still as effective as 2 h after ingestion. Ten subjects receiving dexchlorpheniramine reported subjective symptoms relating to CNS depression, in contrast to only one subject given cetirizine.
Müller
F O
FO
Department of Pharmacology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.
Botha
J J
JJ
van Dyk
M
M
Luus
H G
HG
Groenewoud
G
G
D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006919:Hydroxyzine; C018904:dexchlorpheniramine; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D006632:Histamine; D017332:Cetirizine