Controlled comparison of the efficacy and safety of cetirizine 10 mg o.d. and fexofenadine 120 mg o.d. in reducing symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy, onset and duration of action and safety of cetirizine 10 mg o.d., fexofenadine 120 mg o.d., and placebo were compared in this investigator-blinded, crossover study involving the use of the Vienna Challenge Chamber.


METHODS
40 volunteers with seasonal allergic rhinitis were exposed to a controlled grass pollen concentration for 6 h on 2 consecutive days. Subjective symptoms and objective measurements were recorded during the allergen exposure periods.


RESULTS
Both active medications were significantly more effective than placebo and had a comparable onset of action in alleviating the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The efficacy of both active drugs was comparable for the first 4 h after administration of the drugs on day 1 and day 2. However from 22 to 24 h after the first dose cetirizine was significantly superior to fexofenadine for the major symptom complex score and for sneezing. Concerning the total symptom complex score at day 2 fexofenadine could not reach superiority to placebo. No serious adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Cetirizine and fexofenadine were significantly better than placebo, also in reducing the symptom of nasal congestion. However cetirizine appears to have a longer duration of action than fexofenadine.
Horak
F
F
ENT Clinic, University of Vienna, Austria.
Stübner
P
P
Zieglmayer
R
R
Kavina
A
A
De Vos
C
C
Burtin
B
B
Donnelly
F
F
D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012912:Sneezing / Q000187:drug effects; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D016593:Terfenadine; C093230:fexofenadine; D017332:Cetirizine