Acrivastine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy in allergic rhinitis, urticaria and related disorders

Acrivastine is a short acting histamine H1-receptor antagonist with a rapid onset of action. Double-blind clinical trials have shown acrivastine (usually 8mg three times daily) to be an effective and well tolerated antihistamine in the treatment of chronic urticaria and allergic rhinitis. Acrivastine was more effective than placebo and similar in efficacy to clemastine or terfenadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In the treatment of dermatoses in which histamine has a pathogenetic role, the efficacy of acrivastine was superior to that of placebo and similar to that of usual dosages of clemastine, hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine or terfenadine. Acrivastine caused less drowsiness than clemastine, the incidence of adverse effects being indistinguishable from that with placebo or terfenadine. Thus, acrivastine is an effective addition to drugs currently available for the treatment of patients with allergic diseases in whom a histamine H1-receptor antagonist is indicated. Because of its rapid onset of action acrivastine will be particularly useful for 'on demand' therapy in patients with intermittent symptoms.