Effectiveness of antihistamines in the symptomatic management of the common cold.

A multicentric trial compared the effect of chlorpheniramine maleate with a placebo on the signs and symptoms of the common cold. Two hundred seventy-one patients were domiciled for 48 hours and evaluated during this period and for four days afterwards. Evaluations by both patients and physicians showed that chlorpheniramine maleate was superior to placebo in lessening the degree of symptoms of the common cold. Statistically significant differences were found both on the first day and as late as the seventh day. Significant differences and trends were shown in such measures as total objective score, physicians' evaluation of symptoms. The overall incidence of side effects other than drowsiness did not differ between the treatment groups.