TOPICAL VERSUS SYSTEMICAL TREATMENT WITH ANTIHISTAMINES IN SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS - EFFICACY AND COMPATIBILITY OF AZELASTIN NASAL SPRAY IN COMPARISON WITH CETIRIZINE TABLETS

A controlled, double-blind, randomised multi-center trial was carried out to compare the efficacy and safety of Azelastin nasal-spray with orally administered Cetirizine in seasonal allergic rhinitis. A total of 40 patients with history and clinical findings of pronounced seasonal allergic rhinitis mostly with symptoms of pronounced seasonal allergic rhinitis mostly with symptoms of conjunctivitis were treated for a two weeks period in double-dummy technique with either Azelastin-nasal-spray 0, 14 mg per nostril twice daily or a single oral dose of Cetirizine 10 mg in the morning. Nasal and ocular symptom-scores were documented twice daily in a diary. Every week control examinations including rhinoscopy and anterior rhinomanometry were performed by the investigator. Global assessments of efficacy were performed by patient and investigator at the end of the study. Statistical analysis detected no significant differences between both treatment regimens at the end of the study regarding relief of symptoms in physicians (p = 0, 198) as well as patient's (p = 0,278) rating. Vigilance increased in both treatment groups. Tolerability of both medications as scaled to be ''good'' or ''very good'' because of missing side-effects. No drug related adverse events were reported.