A Comparative Study To Evaluate The Efficacy of Levocetrizine and Fexofenadine Hydrochloride in Allergic Rhinitis

Dr.Anil.H.T; Dr. Smitha.S.G.; Dr.R.K.Swathi.

Volume : IV, Issue : IV, April - 2014

A Comparative Study To Evaluate The Efficacy of Levocetrizine and Fexofenadine Hydrochloride in Allergic Rhinitis

Dr. Anil. H. T, Dr. Smitha. S. G. , Dr. R. K. Swathi.

Abstract :

Objectives–Allergic rhinitis is a common and debilitating disease that has major effect on health related quality of life. Antihistamines are the main stay of treatment and are recommended for all types of intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis.Compared with older antihistamines,newer antihistamines are shown to be more potent. This study was done to compare two newer antihistamines– levocetrizine and fexofenadine.

Methods– 100 patients aged between 12–65 years with allergic rhinitis who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were sequentially randomized into two groups and treated with either levocetrizineor fexofenadine hydrochloride for 4 weeks. Patients were given a symptom diary to record the efficacy of their treatment on daily basis.

Results– Significant reduction in severity of individual symptoms inlevocetrizine group compared to fexofenadine group was noted(p<0.01). Symptoms score decreased from baseline mean by 99–100% in levocetrizinegroup compared to 90–91% in fexofenadine group. Fexofenadine hydrochloride had rapid onset of action compared to levocetrizine.

Conclusion– Levocetrizine is more effective than fexofenadine in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis.