Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 1991
Cetirizine: a unique second-generation antihistamine for treatment of rhinitis and chronic urticaria.
The recent development of selective H1-antagonists that minimally cross the blood-brain barrier has greatly improved the management of allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria. These new agents have much reduced anticholinergic and sedative side effects, which were the major drawbacks of the classic H1-antihistamines. Cetirizine, a new second-generation H1-antagonist, offers several properties that may further improve the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria. ⋯ Its efficacy has been demonstrated in clinical trials of patients with seasonal rhinitis and urticaria. The most common side effects associated with cetirizine, such as sedation, are similar to those of other second-generation antihistamines. These properties, combined with a once-daily dosage regimen, should help improve patient compliance and optimize antihistamine therapy.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 1991
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCetirizine in the treatment of chronic urticaria.
The effects of oral cetirizine on spontaneous and provoked urticaria were evaluated in two studies. In a double-blind crossover trial, 30 patients with idiopathic urticaria received 10 or 20 mg of cetirizine or placebo. ⋯ In the second study of ten patients with chronic urticaria, immediate and delayed reactions to injected autologous serum, histamine, kallikrein, and synthetic platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acether were inhibited by 10 mg of cetirizine. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of cetirizine may involve inhibition of PAF-induced influx of eosinophils.