ANTIHISTAMINES
Antihistamines were introduced for clinical use more than 80 years ago 1
What Are Antihistamines?
When histamine, a chemical created by your immune system, overreacts to an allergen like pollen, it can cause allergic symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes.
Antihistamines are medications that block histamine, which helps relieve your allergic symptoms. 2
Antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms are divided into two types based on where and how they work in your body:
First-generation antihistamines, which were
approved for clinical use in the 1930s.
They can also cause central nervous
system, cardiac, and other adverse effects.
Second-generation antihistamines, which were approved for
clinical use in the 1980s.
What’s the Difference Between First- and Second-generation Antihistamines?
Both first- and second-generation antihistamines are still prescribed today, and the main difference between the two is the side effects that they cause: 1,2
First-generation antihistamines cross the
blood-brain barrier, which can make you
drowsy.
Second-generation antihistamines do not cross the blood-brain
barrier to the same degree as first-generation antihistamines, so
they don’t make you drowsy at standard dosing levels.
Because of this, third-generation antihistamines are considered to be safer than first-generation antihistamines.2
Additionally, second-generation antihistamines
have fewer CNS, cardiac, toxicity-related and other side effects, and they interact with fewer medications than first-generation antihistamines, which is why they
are preferred.3,4
Telfast® stands out as one of the least sedating third-generation antihistamines, with fewer adverse effects overall when compared to first-generation antihistamines as well as other second-generation antihistamines. 3
How Can You Manage Urticaria?
Good allergy management is based on your medical history, how severe your symptoms are, and the results of any allergy tests you may have had. 5 Telfast® is a third-generation antihistamine that can help manage your allergy symptoms. 4,6-8