Oral ebastine, 10 mg once daily for seven days, and placebo were compared as treatment for active perennial allergic rhinitis in 151 patients in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial. Ebastine treatment produced a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of most symptoms associated with perennial rhinitis. Tolerability was similar in the two treatment groups. The incidences of drowsiness and dry mouth were not more frequent in the patients treated with the active drug.