A comparison of the efficacy of azelastine nasal spray and loratidine tablets in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

A total of 30 patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis were treated in a 6-week randomized, double-blind, double-dummy parallel-group study, comparing azelastine nasal spray (0.14 mg/nostril administered twice daily) and loratidine tablets (10 mg once daily). Symptoms evaluated were sneezing, nose and/or eye itching, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, photophobia, nasal occlusion, throat irritation, smell loss, nasal mucosa swelling, conjunctivitis, and pharyngeal mucosa reddening. Each symptom was assessed according to severity and given a score on a four-point rating scale. Compared with baseline, total symptom scores for both the azelastine and loratidine treatment groups were reduced at each of the assessments during treatment. No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups. The investigator concluded that azelastine, formulated as a nasal spray, is as effective as loratidine tablets in the relief of the symptoms of seasonal rhinitis and that it has a rapid onset of action.