Despite its problems, terfenadine did set a new standard for hay fever treatment

摘要

FAMOUS today for the fact that 100 million people used it before its risks were fully recognised, the first non-sedating antihistamine, terfenadine (Triludan), nevertheless set a new standard for the treatment of allergic rhinitis when it was launched by Merrell Dow (now part of Sanofi Aventis) in 1980. Before the introduction of terfenadine, people with hay fever either put up with the sedation and psychomotor retardation of first generation antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine or diphenhydramine, or suffered — usually less than silently.