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1: BMJ. 2000 Apr 29;320(7243):1184-6.Click here to read Click here to read Links
Comment in:
BMJ. 2000 Apr 29;320(7243):1186-7.
BMJ. 2000 Sep 2;321(7260):572.

Sedation with "non-sedating" antihistamines: four prescription-event monitoring studies in general practice.

Mann RD, Pearce GL, Dunn N, Shakir S.

Southampton University, Southampton. DrMann@manorcottage.fsbusiness.co.uk

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency with which sedation was reported in post-marketing surveillance studies of four second generation antihistamines: loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and acrivastine. DESIGN: Prescription-event monitoring studies. SETTING: Prescriptions were obtained for each cohort in the immediate post-marketing period. SUBJECTS: Event data were obtained for a total of 43 363 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reporting of sedation or drowsiness. RESULTS: The odds ratios (adjusted for age and sex) for the incidence of sedation were 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.11; P=0.1) for fexofenadine; 2.79 (1.69 to 4.58; P<0.0001) for acrivastine, and 3.53 (2.07 to 5.42; P<0.0001) for cetirizine compared with loratadine. No increased risk of accident or injury was evident with any of the four drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Although the risk of sedation was low with all four drugs, fexofenadine and loratadine may be more appropriate for people working in safety critical jobs.

PMID: 10784544 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC27362

Patient Drug Information

  • Cyproheptadine (Periactin® )

    Cyproheptadine relieves red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and runny nose caused by allergies, irritants in the air, and hay fever. It may also be used to relieve the itching of allergic skin conditions, and t...

  • Hydroxyzine (Anx® , Atarax® , Atarax® Syrup, ...)

    Hydroxyzine is used to relieve the itching caused by allergies and to control the nausea and vomiting caused by various conditions, including motion sickness. It is also used for anxiety and to treat the symptoms of alco...

  • Cetirizine (Zyrtec® , Zyrtec® Chewable, Zyrtec® Hives Relief, ...)

    Cetirizine is used to temporarily relieve the symptoms of hay fever (allergy to pollen, dust, or other substances in the air) and allergy to other substances (such as dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and molds). T...

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