title: An overview of the novel H1-antihistamine bilastine in allergic rhinitis and urticaria.
abstract: Currently available second-generation H1-antihistamines include a wide group of drugs with a better therapeutic index (or risk-benefit ratio) than the classic antihistamines, although their properties and safety profiles may differ. Bilastine is a newly registered H1-antihistamine for the oral treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria, with established antihistaminic and antiallergic properties. Clinical studies in allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria show that once-daily treatment with bilastine 20 mg is effective in managing symptoms and improving patient's quality of life, with at least comparable efficacy to other nonsedative H1-antihistamines. As far as studies in healthy volunteers, clinical assays and clinical experience can establish, bilastine's safety profile is satisfactory, since it lacks anticholinergic effects, does not impair psychomotor performance or actual driving, and appears to be entirely free from cardiovascular effects.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia-Hospital de Basurto, Avenida de Montevideo, 18-48013 Bilbao, Spain. ignacio.jaureguipresa@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jáuregui
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Lirio
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antépara
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; C445659:bilastine