title: Initiation of the effects of acrivastine and cetirizine on histamine-induced wheals and itch in human skin.
abstract: The initiation of the antihistamine effect of a single dose of acrivastine (8 mg) or cetirizine (10 mg) on wheals and itch induced by histamine dihydrochloride (10 mg/ml) in the prick test was studied in a randomized cross-over design employing 20 healthy medical students. The prick test was performed before ingestion of the drug and after 15, 20, 25, 30, 60 and 90 min and 2, 3 and 4 h. Local symptoms (itching) were recorded on a visual analogue scale. The inhibitory effect of acrivastine on the histamine wheal was first noticed 20 min (p < 0.01) after ingestion of the drug and that of cetirizine after 60 min (p < 0.001). The maximum effect of cetirizine, at 4 h, was greater than that of acrivastine, at 3 h (p < 0.001). The suppression of itching was first noticed 25 min after ingestion with both drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haapaniemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014311:Triprolidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D014311:Triprolidine; D006632:Histamine; C043648:acrivastine; D017332:Cetirizine