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 .