[Administration of terfenadine in a single dose: comparison to standard treatment, as a double blind study, in patients presenting with allergic rhinitis].

This double-blind, randomized multicentre study was designed to compare efficacy and tolerability of 120 mg terfenadine taken once daily (in the morning) with the established regimen of 60 mg terfenadine taken twice daily in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis. Two comparable groups, a total of 191 hay fever patients, were treated for 1 week. Symptom severity was assessed by the investigators before and at the end of the treatment (visual analogue scale), and daily by the patient (four-point rating scale). All symptoms improved to a similar degree in both groups. Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant, except for nasal symptoms in three cases as assessed by the visual analogue scale in one centre (better relief in the group given 120 mg terfenadine once daily). Tolerability was good and similar in both groups. The data presented show that in the treatment of hay fever 120 mg terfenadine given once daily is an effective, convenient and well tolerated alternative to the regimen of 60 mg terfenadine given twice daily.