CETIRIZINE - A NEW THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE FOR CHRONIC URTICARIA

Chronic urticaria represents a cutaneous reaction pattern that may las t for slightly more than six weeks to more than five years. Treatment of patients with chronic urticaria can be a problem for both physician and patient because of the significant side effects that may be cause d by first-generation H-1 antihistamines or long-term corticosteroid t herapy. Newer antihistamines represent a major advance for the treatme nt of patients with chronic urticaria. Of this group, cetirizine appea rs to offer some distinct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantag es. An open-label multicenter trial of 217 patients with chronic idiop athic urticaria demonstrated that cetirizine was effective, rapid in o nset, and well tolerated. Thus, cetirizine was shown to be an attracti ve alternative treatment for patients with chronic idiopathic urticari a.