title: Oral antihistamine/decongestant treatment compared with intranasal corticosteroids in seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: This international, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily astemizole-D (10 mg astemizole plus 240 mg pseudoephedrine) with beclomethasone nasal spray (0.05 mg/ml) two puffs/nostril administered twice daily in a total of 204 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Treatment duration was 4 weeks. Although investigator assessments of symptom severity were generally comparable in the two treatment groups throughout the trial, statistically significant differences in favour of astemizole-D for sneezing and ocular symptoms were apparent at the end of the 4-week treatment period (P < 0.05). Patient diary data support these findings, with significant differences in favour of the antihistamine/decongestant combination reported for ocular symptoms after 2 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05) and non-significant trends for sneezing after 2 weeks and ocular symptoms over the entire treatment period (P = 0.07). Use of rescue medication for ocular symptoms was also significantly lower in the astemizole-D treatment group (P < 0.05). A wide range of adverse experiences were reported, however, there were no statistically significant differences in the type or incidence of those between the two treatment groups. In conclusion, astemizole-D appears to be at least as effective and well tolerated as intranasal beclomethasone in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, providing at least comparable relief from all nasal symptoms including congestion and significantly greater relief from ocular symptoms than the topical steroid.
authors.affiliation: Service of Allergy, San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Troise
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voltolini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janssens
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016589:Astemizole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D016589:Astemizole; D001507:Beclomethasone