Antihistamine News and Research

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Antihistamine is a type of drug that blocks the action of histamines, which can cause fever, itching, sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes. Antihistamines are used to prevent fevers in patients receiving blood transfusions and to treat allergies, coughs, and colds.

Popular antihistamine used to help young children sleep is ineffective

Although about half of pediatricians recommend that children under age 2 can be given diphenhydramine to help them sleep, the first study to look at effectiveness of the agent in children who are that young found no benefit.

4 Jul 2006

Benadryl does not improve infant sleep

An antihistamine often recommended to parents whose infants do not sleep through the night may not be effective in reducing nighttime awakenings or improving parents' happiness with their children's sleep.

3 Jul 2006

Inflammation cuts both ways

Inflammation cuts both ways. When invaded by an infectious agent, for example, the body calls on the forces of inflammation to fight and defeat the intruder.

6 Apr 2006

Non-prescription cough medicine won't help that cough

According to a panel of experts in the U.S. cough medicines bought over the counter do little good and may in fact harm children.

9 Jan 2006

Syrupy medications may cause cavities in children

A spoon full of sugar may help the medicine go down, but most dentists would likely encourage parents to skip that step when treating a child's illness.

9 Jan 2006

Butterbur extract should be considered as an alternative treatment for hayfever

The largest trial so far conducted using Butterbur extract to treat intermittent allergic rhinitis (hay fever) shows that this plant extract is as effective as a commonly used antihistamine (Telfast 180).

22 Aug 2005

Claritin's switch to OTC status meant fewer prescriptions

After the allergy drug Claritin became available without a prescription in 2002, insurance plans and consumers spent less on the prescription form of its main ingredient, loratadine, and all similar allergy drugs, according to a new report published in this month’s The American Journal of Managed Care.

10 Jun 2005

Latest patterns of medication use in the U.S.

In 2004, 82 percent of adults and more than 50 percent of children took at least one prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), or herbal/natural medication in any given week, Boston University researchers revealed recently.

30 May 2005

The rise in over the counter drugs, why?

Switching of prescription drugs to over the counter availability is increasingly common, but what are the motives behind this trend, ask US researchers in this week's BMJ?

3 Jan 2005

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder, according to research conducted at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University.

18 Nov 2004

Vaccine provides new hope to the millions of people who suffer from food allergies

A team led by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine has developed vaccines that vastly reduce or eliminate dogs' allergic reactions to three major food allergens: peanuts, milk and wheat. The vaccines' benefits lasted at least three months.

14 Nov 2004

Ranbaxy receives FDA approval to market Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate extended release tablets

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited of New Delhi, India, announced today that RLL has received approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate Extended Release Tablets

26 Sep 2004

A misconception that eating wasabi decongests the nose

Wasabi, (Wasabia japonica) is commonly known as the Japanese horseradish used to enhance the enjoyment of sushi.

18 Sep 2004

Michigan settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced today a settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough over its underpayment of Medicaid Drug Rebates on the antihistamine drug Claritin, netting more than $2.6 million for Michigan’s Medicaid program.

3 Aug 2004

Schering-Ploug will return more than $9 million to the Texas Medicaid program for the company’s fraudulent reporting of prices for drug Claritin

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has announced a settlement among Texas and other states with pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough Inc. that will return more than $9 million to the Texas Medicaid program for the company’s fraudulent reporting of prices for the antihistamine drug Claritin.

2 Aug 2004

Schering Plough to reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in Claritin case

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough will reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in a nationwide settlement of allegations the drug maker failed to offer state Medicaid programs its best price for the popular antihistamine drug Claritin.

31 Jul 2004

Most over-the-counter cough medications are no better than non-medicated syrup

A Penn State College of Medicine study has shown that many over-the-counter cough medicines are no better than non-medicated syrup for nighttime cough and sleep quality in children with upper respiratory tract infections.

6 Jul 2004

62 percent of frequent antihistamine users did not test positive for allergies

A new study in the current issue of Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy concludes that 62 percent of frequent antihistamine users did not test positive for allergies.

28 Jun 2004

Higher generic drug use in 2003 slowed the rising cost per prescription to a 7.9% increase

Generic drug use increased to a record 48% among Express Scripts' 50 million members during 2003, spurred by the use of several prominent new generics, fluoxetine, omeprazole and lisinopril.

9 Jun 2004

FDA approves new chewable formulation of Zyrtec® aimed at young allergy sufferers

Pfizer Inc and UCB Pharma today announced the approval of a new chewable formulation of Zyrtec® (cetirizine HCl) for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (itching and hives of unknown causes) in children aged two years and older. The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration makes Zyrtec the first and only prescription antihistamine available in both syrup and chewable form.

22 Mar 2004