For the study, researchers from the Netherlands reviewed data on patients under the age of 18 with reported adverse reactions to systemic antihistamines between 1991 and 2014. A total of 228 events met the researchers’ criteria for review.
Among the more serious adverse events reported were malignant neuroleptic syndrome and death in a 4-year-old girl after she was given alimemazine as a sedative and convulsions in three patients with possible links to loratadine and desloratadine. Skin eruptions were also reported in 33 patients. A variety of less severe adverse events like headaches were also reported.
The study’s authors found some of the adverse events uncovered in their research did not appear in previous safety studies sponsored by drug manufactures, which may suggest bias on a part of the companies.
According to Medscape, the authors wrote, “When prescribing antihistamines, clinicians should be aware of ADRs such as somnolence, altered behavior, skin eruptions and headache. Moreover, there is a possible relation between convulsions and (des) loratadine.”
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