ASTEMIZOLE AND PSEUDOEPHEDRINE COMBINATION FOR THE SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF THE COMMON COLD AND INFLUENZA

An open trial of astemizole-D (10 mg of astemizole plus 240 mg of exte nded-release pseudoephedrine hydrochloride; once-daily dosage) in the symptomatic treatment of the common cold and influenza was undertaken by general practitioners in South Africa. Patients suffering from the common cold or influenza and manifesting at least one of the following symptoms could be included in- this therapeutic trial: congested nasa l passages (blocked nose), sneezing, nasal discharge (runny nose), and itchy/gritty eyes. Two hundred thirteen evaluable cases were included in the analysis. The order of frequency of presenting symptoms was bl ocked nose (86%), runny nose (87%), and sneezing (69%); only 33% of pa tients presented with ocular symptoms, which were always combined with nasal symptomatology and/or sneezing. One hour after taking the medic ation, between 58% and 67% of patients had experienced symptomatic rel ief (depending on the symptom); after 2 hours, over 71% of patients ha d relief of all symptoms. The average duration of medication usage unt il disappearance of symptoms was 4 days, and 81% of patients said that they would be willing to use the medication again. The five most comm on side effects, and their frequencies, were as follows: euphoria (3%) , insomnia (5%), dizziness/giddiness (5%), sedation (7%), and dry mout h (7%). Astemizole-D provided symptomatic relief of the common cold an d influenza in this patient population.