Antihistamines for the common cold

Antihistamines and the common cold. A review and critique of the literature.

OBJECTIVE To determine if antihistamines provided clinically significant relief from the symptoms of the common cold. METHODS Structured literature review following standardized guidelines of primary studies published after 1975. MEASUREMENTS Improvements in symptom scores for total symptoms and nasal symptoms over the first three days of a common cold. RESULTS Three of five studies repor...

Antihistamines in the treatment of the common cold; a preliminary report.

So far as we can determine only three reports on the use of antihistamine drugs in the treatment of the common cold have appeared.”24 Our interest in them in the treatment of the common cold was stimulated by the report of Brewster in 1947 on the effect of diphenylamine hydrochloride (Benadryl) in over one hundred cases. Although at first we used various antihistamine drugs casually and without...

Zinc for the common cold.

BACKGROUND The common cold is one of the most widespread illnesses and is a leading cause of visits to the doctor and absenteeism from school and work. Trials conducted in high-income countries since 1984 investigating the role of zinc for the common cold symptoms have had mixed results. Inadequate treatment masking and reduced bioavailability of zinc from some formulations have been cited as i...

Newer Insights into the Prsevention of the Common Cold

Since most colds are self-limiting, symptoms will usually resolve on their own in seven to ten days. For the majority of patients, treatment is symptomatic and targeted at the most bothersome symptoms. Specific nonprescription therapy may relieve cold symptoms but should be used with caution, especially in at-risk patient populations. Patients should monitor for worsening symptoms, and progress...

The common cold.