[Comparative study of a new antihistamine, mequitazine, and placebos].

In a double-blind trial lasting 2 weeks, a new, long-acting antihistamine, Mequitazine, and a placebo, were compared. 115 allergic patients participated in this experiment (mequitazine n = 56, placebo n = 59). Therapeutic results and the effect on diurnal alertness were evaluated by means of a questionnaire filled in daily by the patients. Whether considering the day by day results or the results of the entire treatment period, statistically, Mequitazine (10 mg/24 hrs) is very significantly more active than the placebo. The daytime drowsiness induced by Mequitazine is statistically no greater than that induced by the placebo, whether analyzed on a day by day basis or over the entire treatment period (P = 0.23). The side effects, 8 for Mequitazine, 5 for placebo, are mild and did not lead to discontinuation of the treatment in the Mequitazine group.