title: Double-blind comparison of cetirizine and placebo in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of cetirizine were evaluated in 419 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Using a 4-way, double-blind randomization schedule, patients were given a 1-week course of once daily cetirizine (5, 10, or 20 mg) or placebo. Patient and physician efficacy ratings corresponded, indicating superiority of cetirizine to placebo (P less than .05) in reducing symptom severity scores for sneezing, rhinorrhea, ocular pruritus, nasal pruritus, watering of the eyes, and redness of the eyes. All cetirizine doses achieved higher efficacy ratings (72.7%, 79.2%, and 75.7%, respectively) than placebo (52.9%; P less than .05) by the physician's global assessment. Cetirizine was well tolerated, with sedation being the most common adverse experience, increasing in frequency at higher doses. A dose-response relationship was evident for selected symptoms, and the once daily 5-mg dose was found to be an effective minimum dose.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Asthma Clinic, Denver, Colorado 80209.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Falliers
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dockhorn
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zeterberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006919:Hydroxyzine; D017332:Cetirizine