As well as acting as an antihistamine, levocabastine has also subsequently been found to act as a potent and selective antagonist for the neurotensin receptor NTS2, and was the first drug used to characterise the different neurotensin subtypes.[4][5] This has made it a useful tool for the study of this receptor.[6][7][8][9][10]
The pharmaceutical drugBilina is a combination of Levocabastine, benzalkonium chloride, and other components and is typically used in a 0.5 mg/ml suspension as eye-drops, dispensed in 4ml bottles for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis or similar allergic ocular conditions. Another formulation is available as a nasal spray for the management of allergic rhinitis.[11][12]
^Pipkorn U, Bende M, Hedner J, Hedner T (October 1985). "A double-blind evaluation of topical levocabastine, a new specific H1 antagonist in patients with allergic conjunctivitis". Allergy. 40 (7): 491–496. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1985.tb00255.x. PMID2866725. S2CID8681108.
^Schotte A, Leysen JE, Laduron PM (August 1986). "Evidence for a displaceable non-specific [3H]neurotensin binding site in rat brain". Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology. 333 (4): 400–405. doi:10.1007/BF00500016. PMID3022160. S2CID23692347.
^Kitabgi P, Rostène W, Dussaillant M, Schotte A, Laduron PM, Vincent JP (August 1987). "Two populations of neurotensin binding sites in murine brain: discrimination by the antihistamine levocabastine reveals markedly different radioautographic distribution". European Journal of Pharmacology. 140 (3): 285–293. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(87)90285-8. PMID2888670.
^Bredeloux P, Costentin J, Dubuc I (December 2006). "Interactions between NTS2 neurotensin and opioid receptors on two nociceptive responses assessed on the hot plate test in mice". Behavioural Brain Research. 175 (2): 399–407. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2006.09.016. PMID17074405. S2CID24790151.