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Comparative pharmacology of the H1 antihistamines
 

A del Cuvillo 1, J Mullol 2, J Bartra 3, I Dávila 4, I Jáuregui 5, J Montoro 6, J Sastre 7, AL Valero 3

1 Clínica Dr. Lobatón, Cádiz, Spain;
2 Unitat de Rinologia, Servei d’Otorinolaringologia (ICEMEQ). Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain;
3 Unitat d’Al·lèrgia. Servei de Pneumologia i Al·lèrgia Respiratòria. Hospital Clínic (ICT). Barcelona, Spain;
4 Servicio de Alergia. Hospital Clínico. Salamanca, Spain;
5 Unidad de Alergia. Hospital de Basurto. Bilbao, Spain;
6 Unidad de Alergia. Hospital La Plana. Villarreal (Castellón), Spain

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2006; Vol. 16, Supplement 1:3-12
 

 Abstract


The United States National Library of Medicine defines the term pharmacokinetics as “the dynamic and kinetic mechanisms of exogenous chemical products, and the absorption, biotransformation, distribution, release, transport and elimination of drug substances according to their dosage and extent and rate of metabolism”.
Although the effi cacy of the different H1 antihistamines in the treatment of allergic patients is similar, even when comparing fi rst- and second-generation drugs, they are very different in terms of chemical structure, pharmacology and toxic potential. Consequently, knowledge of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics is important for the correct usage of such drugs, particularly in patients belonging to extreme age groups, pregnant women, or subjects with concomitant diseases. .../... more at PDF full text