title: A multicenter randomized double-blind 2-week comparison study of azelastine nasal spray 0.1% versus levocabastine nasal spray 0.05% in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the onset of action, efficacy, and safety of azelastine and levocabastine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial, 244 patients with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis were randomized to receive either azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray (ANS) 0.1% or levocabastine hydrochloride nasal spray (LNS) 0.05% for 14 consecutive days. A visual analog scale was used to record total nasal symptom score (TNSS) changes. Indexes for further assessment included onset of action, total effective rate, and evaluation of therapeutic effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant changes from baseline in TNSS were seen in both the LNS group and the ANS group. No significant differences were seen between the two groups in terms of evaluation of therapeutic effect, total effective rate, and onset of action, except for a higher symptom relief rate in the LNS group than in the ANS group within 30 min of administering the first dose. Adverse reactions were mild to moderate, with an incidence of 0.9% for LNS and 2.5% for ANS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both ANS and LNS were effective and safe in the treatment of moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis. Moreover, LNS reached a higher symptom relief rate within 30 min of administering the first dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tong Ren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shixi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chengshuo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D010793:Phthalazines; D010880:Piperidines; C047340:levocabastine; C020976:azelastine