[Treatment of urticaria with the new H1 antihistaminic astemizole--with special reference to the time of onset of effect and maximum effect].

20 patients, 12 suffering from chronic urticaria, 2 from acute urticaria, 1 from pressure urticaria, 2 from cold urticaria and 3 from urticaria factitia were treated in an open pilot study with the new H1-antihistamine Astemizole. The dosage was in all cases 1 X 10 mg per day. The onset of action as well as the efficacy maximum were registered. Astemizole proved in this study to be a very effective antihistamine being able to achieve good results even in hard to cure cases like cold urticaria. On the 1. day 35% of the patients had noticed an onset of action. 75% of the patients had an onset of action within the first 2 days. The efficacy maximum was achieved within the first 2 days in 60% of the patients.