Efficacy of an oral antihistamine, astemizole, as compared to a nasal steroid spray in hay fever.

The efficacy and side effects of the oral H1-antihistamine, astemizole, were compared with those of nasal beclomethasone in 158 adult birch-pollen allergic hay fever patients. 148 patients completed the 5-week, controlled trial which took place in Stockholm, May 1986, during the birch pollen season. Daily pollen counts were found to be at a rather low level throughout the study period. The effect and tolerability of both drugs were found to be excellent, although beclomethasone reduced nasal symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhoea, blocked nose) significantly more effectively than astemizole. Eye symptoms were mild and equal in both groups. The results indicate that oral astemizole is an effective non-sedating antihistamine, though less so than nasal beclomethasone, in the treatment of nasal hay fever symptoms.