BACKGROUND Although combination formulas containing antihistamines, decongestants and/or analgesics are sold over-the-counter (OTC) in large quantities for the common cold, the evidence of effectiveness is limited. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations in reducing the duration and alleviating the symptoms of the common cold in adults and c...

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 518 infants and children who had otitis media with effusion ("secretory" otitis media), we evaluated the efficacy of a two-week course of amoxicillin (40 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) with and without a four-week course of an oral decongestant-antihistamine combination. Among the 474 subjects who were evaluated at the f...

in this study, different derivative spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine maleate (cp), phenylephrine hcl (pe) and phenylpropanolamine hcl (pp) in their ternary mixtures and in pharmaceutical dosage forms. spectra of single component and ternary mixtures of various concentrations and combinations from zero- to fourth-derivation were obtai...

BACKGROUND Little is known about professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding the clinical significance of treatments for common cold (upper respiratory infection, presumed viral). METHODS We surveyed university-associated family physicians and published common cold researchers ("experts") regarding evidence-of-benefit and magnitude-of-benefit for 8 treatments: antihistamine, oral deconge...

BACKGROUND Antihistamines are first-line therapy for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR); however, an oral decongestant is often added to improve control of nasal congestion. OBJECTIVE To examine whether a tablet combining the nonsedating antihistamine desloratadine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine was more effective than either drug administered alone in reducing the symptom...

Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a decongestant. The salts pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine sulfate are found in many over-the-counter preparations either as single-ingredient preparations, or more commonly in combination with antihistamines, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and/or ibuprofen. Sudafed is a trademark for a common brand which contains pseudoe...

BACKGROUND Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common and may cause hearing loss with associated developmental delay. Treatment remains controversial. The effectiveness of antihistamines, decongestants and antihistamine/decongestant combinations in promoting the resolution of effusions has been assessed by randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to determine w...

might resolve over time is not an optimal approach. We recommend that a first-generation antihistamine-decongestant (our choice is sustained release brompheniramine, 12 mg, and pseudoephedrine, 120 mg every 12 h) be administered as the initial therapy whatever the duration of cough, unless there is a contraindication to one of these drugs. This empiric approach makes sense because postnasal dri...

OBJECTIVES To review the seven Cochrane reviews of non-antibiotic treatment for the common cold. METHODS Each Cochrane review was read and summarized, and results presented as relative risks and, where possible, numbers needed to treat. RESULTS The main theme that runs through these Cochrane reviews is the variable quality of the primary studies. In general, the reviewers are fairly cautiou...