Comparative trial of an antihistamine, mequitazine, and placebo.

Forty patients suffering from a dermatological condition suitable for treatment with an antihistamine were studied in a double-blind randomized trial to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of mequitazine and placebo. Over a period of 2 weeks, patients received either 5 mg mequitazine twice daily or placebo. Where justified, patients were also given concomitant topical treatment but only with a hydrating cream or ichthyol paste. Patients' overall response to treatment was significantly better in the mequitazine group, whether the results were analyzed for all patients or those receiving just the trial drugs without topical treatment. Few side-effects were reported and there was no significant difference between the levels of drowsiness experienced with mequitazine compared with placebo.