Supplementation of fexofenadine therapy with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution to treat ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
Ocular symptoms are often under-treated in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The efficacy of fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 mg capsules supplemented with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution was evaluated to determine the optimal drug regimen for control of ocular allergic symptoms.


METHODS
In this 5-week, open-label, randomized, multicentre comparative study, 89 patients with documented ragweed pollen allergy received fexofenadine b.i.d. with nedocromil rescue, fexofenadine q.d. with nedocromil b.i.d., or fexofenadine rescue with nedocromil b.i.d. during the ragweed pollen season.


RESULTS
For all regimens, mean symptom severity scores for itching, burning, tearing, redness, grittiness, discharge, light sensitivity and swelling improved significantly (P < 0.003). Similarly, all groups experienced significant (P < 0.02) improvement in all clinical signs: erythema, oedema, discharge, conjunctival injection and conjunctivitis, as well as quality-of-life scores (P < 0.0001). All regimens reduced overall symptom severity scores after 5 min (P < 0.05) with relief persisting over 12 h (P < 0.03). Improvements in mean symptoms, signs and quality-of-life scores were similar among the treatment groups as were onset and duration of action even though patients in two of the three study arms were taking one-half or less of the recommended fexofenadine dosage. Patients and physicians judged the regimens containing lower fexofenadine dosages (with nedocromil b.i.d.) to be more effective overall than the regimen containing the highest fexo-fenadine dosage (with nedocromil as rescue only).


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of oral fexofenadine therapy with nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution relieves ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allowing control of rhinal symptoms with half the recommended dosage of fexofenadine.
Alexander
Michael
M
doc911@cogeco.ca
Patel
Piyush
P
Allegro
Stacey
S
Hicks
Angela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D031164:Ambrosia / Q000276:immunology; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017835:Nedocromil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012621:Seasons; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017835:Nedocromil; D016593:Terfenadine; C093230:fexofenadine