An overview of the novel H1-antihistamine bilastine in allergic rhinitis and urticaria

Abstract

Currently available second-generation H1-antihistamines include a wide group of drugs with a better therapeutic index (or risk–benefit ratio) than the classic antihistamines, although their properties and safety profiles may differ. Bilastine is a newly registered H1-antihistamine for the oral treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria, with established antihistaminic and antiallergic properties. Clinical studies in allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria show that once-daily treatment with bilastine 20 mg is effective in managing symptoms and improving patient’s quality of life, with at least comparable efficacy to other nonsedative H1-antihistamines. As far as studies in healthy volunteers, clinical assays and clinical experience can establish, bilastine’s safety profile is satisfactory, since it lacks anticholinergic effects, does not impair psychomotor performance or actual driving, and appears to be entirely free from cardiovascular effects.

Keywords::

• allergic rhinitis
• antihistamine
• bilastine
• histamine H1-receptor antagonist
• urticaria

Financial & competing interests disclosure

I Jáuregui declares financial support from FAES Farma as a medical consultant, writer and speaker, and belongs to two advisory boards, one supported by FAES Farma and the other one by Novartis, and in the previous years he received financial support as a speaker from UCB, Schering-Plough, MSD, Chiesi, Almirall and Menarini. I Antépara has received financial support as a speaker from FAES, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough, MSD, Chiesi, Almirall and Menarini. PM Gamboa has received financial support as a speaker from Novartis, MSD, ALK, Phadia, and Bial-Arístegui. 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.