@article {241, author = {A Report From CEN}, title = {A Large-Scale, Office-Based Study Evaluates The Use Of A New Class Of Nonsedating Antihistamines}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {241--252}, year = {1990}, doi = {10.3122/jabfm.3.4.241}, publisher = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine}, abstract = {The two newest agents in the class of nonsedating antihistamines were studied in a wide variety of family practice patients. In a Phase IV, prospective, alternating sequence, open-label design, patients having allergic rhinitis (AR) were assigned to receive either astemizole (n = 659) or terfenadine (n = 639). The resultant treatment groups, typical of family practices, were comparable for demographics, signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and clinical profile. The groups differed in that astemizole patients had a longer history of AR and a higher frequency of family history of AR. Patients who were treated for 3 to 8 weeks were grouped for analyses. The frequency and severity of the signs and symptoms of AR and patient complaints decreased markedly in both groups. Self-reported improvement in quality of life based on nine measures was the same for each group. No differences were seen between treatments when positive-rated outcomes were combined in the final overall assessment by physicians and patients. In rating the success of therapy, physicians{\textquoteright} ratings of {\textquotedblleft}excellent{\textquotedblright} and patients{\textquoteright} ratings of {\textquotedblleft}felt much better{\textquotedblright} were reported more frequently (P \< 0.05) for astemizole, while physicians{\textquoteright} ratings of {\textquotedblleft}good{\textquotedblright} and patients{\textquoteright} ratings of {\textquotedblleft}better{\textquotedblright} were reported more frequently (P \< 0.05) for terfenadine.}, issn = {1557-2625}, URL = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/3/4/241}, eprint = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/3/4/241.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine} }