title: Antihistamine onset of action: the importance to the patient.
abstract: Although some older antihistamines have a relatively slow onset of action, modern agents indicate an efficacy between 1 and 3 hours of administration. For patients who use antihistamines regularly, a short onset of action is relatively unimportant. When antihistamines are used as needed, either because of poor compliance or in accordance with emerging therapeutic guidelines, antihistamines with a short onset of action are preferable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Dolen
mesh_terms: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists