title: Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine combination therapy as a comprehensive treatment for allergic rhinitis and nasal congestion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is rapidly increasing in global prevalence. Symptoms of AR, particularly nasal congestion, can cause quality of life (QoL) impairment. Second-generation antihistamines are a recommended first-line therapy for AR but are not viewed as very effective for the treatment of congestion. Therefore, an antihistamine plus a decongestant, such as the combination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine, is a convenient and efficacious treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of combination desloratadine/pseudoephedrine for the treatment of AR symptoms, particularly nasal congestion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four large studies found that improvement in nasal congestion is enhanced when patients are treated with combination desloratadine/pseudoephedrine. The combination drug significantly improved mean reflective nasal congestion scores in these studies compared with either component as monotherapy (p <or= .009 for all). These improvements in congestion were observed by day 2. Mean reductions in nasal congestion scores were comparable between the once- and twice-daily dosing regimens of the combination drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive treatment of AR that effectively relieves nasal congestion can also improve patient QoL. Administration of the second-generation antihistamine desloratadine in combination with the decongestant pseudoephedrine may be regarded as an efficacious and convenient option for patients with AR who are particularly troubled by nasal congestion.
authors.affiliation: ranolik@allergypc.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anolik
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D017336:Loratadine; D054199:Pseudoephedrine; C121345:desloratadine