LORATADINE IN CHRONIC URTICARIA AND ATOPIC SKIN CONDITIONS - A REVIEW

Antihistamines are considered first-line therapy for the relief of sym ptoms of chronic urticaria and are potentially valuable in atopic skin conditions. Loratadine, a new H-1-histamine-receptor antagonist, is s imilar in efficacy to hydroxyzine and at least comparable to cetirizin e and terfenadine in treating chronic idiopathic urticaria. Loratadine has a faster onset of action than astemizole. The efficacy of loratad ine does not diminish with prolonged administration (subsensitivity). In patients with eczema, loratadine 10 mg once daily reduced pruritus and rash significantly more effectively than placebo and at least as w ell as hydroxyzine. In contrast to classic antihistamines and cetirizi ne, loratadine has no significant central nervous system effects. Lora tadine also is without anticholinergic and cardiovascular adverse effe cts, and produces no clinically significant changes in laboratory test indices. The half-life of 8.4 hours allows once-daily administration. Loratadine is a fast-acting, effective, and well-tolerated antihistam ine for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria and allergic ski n disorders. The drug maintains efficacy even during prolonged adminis tration and offers a convenient once-daily dosage schedule without an excessively lengthy duration of action.