[Antihistaminic therapy of chronic urticaria. Results of a multicenter study with azatadine and terfenadine]

Abstract

A comparative double-blind multicenter trial was carried out in six German dermatology clinics involving patients with long-term continuous urticaria. After a five-day washout and initial assessment of the urticaria symptomatology oral antihistamine treatment was started with 2 X 1 mg Azatadine or 2 X 60 mg Terfenadine daily. After seven to ten days' treatment the target symptoms wheals, erythema and itching recovered in all but 4% of the azatadine patients and 21% of the terfenadine patients. Azatadine showed significantly stronger antiallergic efficacy for all symptoms. Both substances caused a certain degree of sedation, but in varying intensity. In all patients developing sedation this undesired side effect disappeared after three days in spite of continuous therapy.