QT interval monitoring during clinical studies with mizolastine, a new H1 antihistamine.

Background: Some H1 antihistamines are at risk for rare but severe dysrhythmias due to an effect on the ventricular repolarization.

Objective: To present an overview of the QT interval monitoring performed during the clinical development of mizolastine, a new selective second-generation H1 antihistamine.

Methods: The ECGs database analysis of clinical studies conducted in volunteers and patients is summarized and focused on the results of reported studies and studies specifically designed for the assessment of the effect of mizolastine on cardiac repolarization, through the QT interval measurements.

Acute zolpidem poisoning--analysis of 344 cases.

Zolpidem is a new short acting hypnotic agent, first launched in France in 1988. Three hundred forty-four cases of intentional acute overdoses are reviewed retrospectively. Patients were predominantly female (70%) in their third or fourth decade.