title: Terfenadine with or without phenylpropanolamine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: The efficacy of terfenadine in combination with phenylpropanolamine was assessed by comparison with terfenadine alone in a double-blind, parallel group study of 66 patients with nasal birch pollen allergy. The patients were allocated randomly into two groups; 34 patients received terfenadine (60 mg) twice daily and 32 patients a combination tablet containing terfenadine (60 mg) and phenylpropanolamine (50 mg) twice daily for 17 days during the birch pollen season. Nasal symptoms (sneezing, discharge, itching and blockage) were relieved significantly by both drugs, but control of symptoms was more rapid and better with the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine combination. Rhinoscopic evaluation of nasal secretion and mucosal swelling showed no differences between the treatment groups. Compared with pre-season values, nasal peak expiratory flow (PEF)-values worsened significantly during the season in the terfenadine, but not in the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine, group. The general condition of the patients was significantly better in the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine group. There were no marked side-effects in either group. At the end of the trial some of the patients in both treatment groups still had symptoms; this is apparently due to the long-lasting and severe pollen season. It is concluded that terfenadine combined with phenylpropanolamine gives better control of seasonal allergic rhinitis than terfenadine alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuutinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holopainen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malmberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rinne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suonpää
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvasti
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016593:Terfenadine
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D016593:Terfenadine