Antihistamine therapy

Allergic rhinitis: continuous or on demand antihistamine therapy?

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa, caused by an IgE-mediated reaction after exposure to the allergen to which the patient is sensitized. Histamine is the most important preformed mediator released in the early stage of the allergic reaction, and also contributes to the late phase of the latter, exhibiting proinflammatory effects. Minimal persistent inflammation is...

Antihistamine Toxicosis

Antihistamines are H1-receptor antagonists widely used in human and veterinary medicine to provide symptomatic relief of allergic signs caused by histamine release, including pruritus and anaphylactic reactions. Antihistamines are also commonly used as sedatives and antiemetics. 1 Antihistamines can be divided into first and second-generation (also called nonsedating) agents (Table 1). First-ge...

Antihistamine use in children.

This review provides an overview of the use of antihistamines in children. We discuss types of histamine receptors and their mechanism of action, absorption, onset and duration of action of first-generation and second-generation H(1)-antihistamines, as well as elimination of H(1)-antihistamines which has important implications for dosing in children. The rationale for the use of H(1)-antihistam...

Histamine and antihistamine substances.

Differentiating Antihistamine Efficacy from Potency*

The ideal antihistamine would optimize both receptor and clinical pharmacology, combining high receptor affinity, reflected by high potency, with outstanding clinical efficacy. Because the basic concepts of potency and efficacy are often confused and used interchangeably within the scientific and pharmaceutical industry, the distinction between these 2 terms must be understood in order for them...