Histamine

The Classic Antihistamines (H1 Inhibitors)Since the early work of Dale and Lewis had indicated that histamine may be important in a number of disorders, there was great interest in the report by Bovet and Staub, in 1937, that a series of compounds possessed antihistamine activity. These substances were too toxic for clinical use, but later studies led to the discovery of a derivative, phenbenzamine (Antergan), and then pyrilamine maleate (Neo-Antergan) (Table 1), which proved to be effective clinically. Additional research in the United States resulted in the development, in 1946, of the highly effective histamine antagonists, diphenhydramine and . . .