Mizolastine: a review of its use in allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria

Mizolastine is a second generation antihistamine agent with high affinity and specificity for histamine H(1) receptors. Mizolastine has demonstrated antiallergic effects in Animals and healthy volunteers and anti-inflammatory activity in animal models. Double-blind trials have shown mizolastine to be significantly more effective than placebo and as effective as other second generation antihistamine agents, such as loratadine or cetirizine, in the management of patients with perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis and in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Available data also suggest that prophylactic administration of mizolastine is significantly more effective than placebo and as effective as prophylactic terfenadine in delaying the onset of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Mizolastine 10 mg/day is generally well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being drowsiness (7%), fatigue (2%), increased appetite (2%) and dry mouth (2%). In volunteers and patients the incidence of prolonged QT(c) interval was similar in mizolastine and placebo recipients, although mizolastine is contraindicated in those with cardiac disease or hepatic impairment or in those receiving erythromycin, ketoconazole or class I or III antiarrhythmic agents. Tests of psychomotor function in volunteers revealed no impairment after single doses of mizolastine <or=10mg.

Conclusions: Mizolastine is a second generation antihistamine agent administered at a dosage of 10mg once daily. Unlike terfenadine and astemizole, mizolastine has not been shown to increase the QT(c) interval in volunteers and patients. Mizolastine may be considered an effective alternative to other second generation antihistamine agents in the management of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.