Acrivastine (BW825C) is a short acting histamine 1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Acrivastine (usually 8mg three times daily) is an effective and well tolerated antihistamine in the treatment of chronic urticaria and allergic rhinitis. Acrivastine is more effective than placebo and similar in efficacy to clemastine or terfenadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In the treatment of dermatoses in which histamine has a pathogenetic role, the efficacy of acrivastine is superior to that of placebo and similar to that of usual dosages of clemastine, hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine or terfenadine. Acrivastine causes less drowsiness than clemastine, the incidence of adverse effects being indistinguishable from that with placebo or terfenadine[1]. Both 4 mg and 8 mg acrivastine alleviate the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis with significant improvements in the symptom scores for sneezing, running nose and the calculated overall score. In addition, 8 mg acrivastine reduces the symptom scores for watery eyes and itchy throat. Acrivastine is both well tolerated and effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis[2].

[1]. Brogden RN, et al. Acrivastine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy in allergic rhinitis, urticaria and related disorders. Drugs. 1991 Jun;41(6):927-40. [2]. Gibbs TG, et al. Acrivastine in two doses compared with placebo in a multicentre, parallel group study for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Br J Clin Pract. 1989 Jan;43(1):11-4.