Rupatadine: global safety evaluation in allergic rhinitis and urticaria

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Rupatadine is a second-generation H₁-antihistamine with dual affinity for histamine H₁ and PAF receptors. Rupatadine is indicated for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria.

Areas covered: A Medline search was conducted to identify preclinical and clinical studies of rupatadine. This was supplemented with additional articles obtained from online sources. The focus of this review is on the safety profile of rupatadine.

Expert opinion: The review of these data indicates that rupatadine is highly selective for histamine H₁-receptors, exhibits additional PAF antagonism in in vitro and in vivo studies, does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and has similar adverse events comparable with other second-generation antihistamines. Rupatadine is a safe and well tolerated drug in patients over 2 years old, with no central nervous system or cardiovascular effects and it can be taken with or without foods.

KEYWORDS:

• Rupatadine
• H₁-receptor antagonist
• H₁-antihistamine
• PAF antagonist
• allergic rhinitis
• seasonal
• perennial
• intermittent
• persistent
• urticaria
• chronic spontaneous urticaria
• therapeutic use
• pharmacodynamics
• pharmacokinetics
• safety
• second-generation antihistamine

Declaration of interest

J Mullol is chairman of the international advisory board, belongs to the speaker’s bureau, and has received research grants from Uriach Group. C Bachert is member of the international advisory board and belongs to the speaker’s bureau of Uriach Group. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.