Does mast cell protection plus mediator antagonism surpass the effect of a classic antihistaminic in the treatment of chronic urticaria? A double-blind comparison of oxatomide and mequitazine.
A new type of antiallergic drug, oxatomide (60 mg daily), was compared with the antihistaminic, mequitazine (10 mg daily), in a 5-week double-blind randomized study involving 26 patients with chronic urticaria. In the 13 oxatomide-treated patients, papules, erythema and pruritus were significantly suppressed after 2 weeks, which was markedly more rapid than with mequitazine. Slight somnolence was reported by 3 patients on oxatomide and 1 on mequitazine; in the latter case, severe urine retention was also reported. Another patient on mequitazine had to discontinue treatment because of severe drowsiness.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010640:Phenothiazines; D010879:Piperazines; C015408:oxatomide; C006069:mequitazine