More potent, faster onset and safer.
Maybe even more than this. Take a look at the abstracts from
apnet.com
The following one is particularly interesting. If they can get a "stuffiness" label, it will certainly distinguish them from the other antihistamines:
Abstract No.: 1122
Decongestant Effects of Desloratadine in Patients With Seasonal Allergic
Rhinitis
A Nayak , R Lorber, LM Salmun
Peoria School of Medicine, University of Illinois, Peoria, IL
Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ
Subject: 08 Rhinitis Therapy
Keywords: 186 rhinitis therapy
Nasal congestion/stuffiness is a chronic symptom in patients with seasonal
allergic rhinitis (SAR). Currently available antihistamines are not
effective in treating nasal congestion/stuffiness. Desloratadine (DL) is a
selective histamine H1-receptor antagonist with additional antiallergic and
anti-inflammatory effects. Once-a-day dosing relieves nasal and non-nasal
signs and symptoms of SAR and improves health-related quality of life. The
effects of DL on nasal congestion/stuffiness are described by using data
pooled from randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled
studies of DL in patients with SAR.
Patients (12-75 years; pooled n=659-662/group) with a 2-year history of SAR
and moderate-to-severe symptoms present at the time of enrollment received
DL (5 mg or 7.5 mg) or placebo PO once a day for 14 days. The severity
(0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe) of congestion/stuffiness was assessed
by patients for the study duration. The 14-day average change in symptom
severity score from baseline was assessed. The mean symptom severity score
for nasal congestion/stuffiness was 2.4 in each treatment group at baseline,
indicating patients had moderate-to-severe nasal congestion before receiving
treatment. DL significantly decreased nasal congestion/stuffiness (P=0.02
and 0.01 for 5 mg and 7.5 mg, respectively, of DL vs placebo) as well as
total symptom severity.
These data indicate that desloratadine, unlike what is generally observed in
other anithistamines, has the added benefit of providing significant relief
from allergic symptoms such as nasal congestion/stuffiness in patients with
SAR.
BTW, there are also 2 levalbuterol abstracts, neither particularly
remarkable.
Peter |
