Method of providing an antihistaminic effect in a hepatically impaired patient

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of providing an antihistaminic effect in a hepatically impaired patient in need thereof comprising administering to said patient an effective antihistaminic amount of a compound of the formula wherein R 1 is hydrogen or hydroxy; R 2 is hydrogen; or R 1 and R 2 taken together form a second bond between the carbon atoms bearing R 1 and R 2 ; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; R 3 is —COOH or —COOalkyl wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and is straight or branched; each of A and B is hydrogen or hydroxy with the proviso that at least one of A or B is hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and individual isomers thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of providing an antihistaminic effect in a hepatically impaired patient in need thereof comprising administering to said patient an effective antihistaminic amount of a compound of the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen or hydroxy;  
 R 2  is hydrogen;  
 or R 1  and R 2  taken together form a second bond between the carbon atoms bearing R 1  and R 2 ;  
 n is an integer of from 1 to 5;  
 R 3  is —COOH or —COOalkyl wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and is straight or branched;  
 each of A and B is hydrogen or hydroxy with the proviso that at least one of A or B is hydrogen;  
 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and individual isomers thereof.  
 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein R 1  is hydroxy.  
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2  wherein n is 3.  
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 3  wherein A and B are both hydrogen.  
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the compound is 4-[1-hydroxy-4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]butyl]-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetic acid.  
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the compound is (R)-4-[1-hydroxy-4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]butyl]-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetic acid.  
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the compound is (S)-4-[1-hydroxy-4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]butyl]-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetic acid.