Abstract
The anticholinergic effects of single doses of terfenadine, chlorpheniramine and atropine on salivary flow were compared with those of placebo in a double-blind crossover study in 21 normal adults. Salivary flow was measured immediately before administering study medications and 3 h after dosing, for the evaluation of anticholinergic activity. Mean salivary flow decreased significantly after administration of chlorpheniramine and atropine (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), and was unchanged by terfenadine and placebo, indicating that terfenadine does not possess detectable anticholinergic activity. Mild drowsiness was reported by 57% and 29% of subjects who received chlorpheniramine and terfenadine, respectively.
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