A clinical comparison of budesonide nasal aerosol, terfenadine and a combined therapy of budesonide and oxymetazoline in adult patients with perennial rhinitis

Abstract

The efficacy of budesonide, terfenadine and a combination of budesonide and oxymetazoline in the treatment of perennial rhinitis was evaluated by a double blind, parallel group study. Adult patients with perennial rhinitis were randomized into three groups. Group 1 patients received budesonide nasal aerosol 400 μg/day for 21 days and oxymetazoline nasal drops for the first three days. Group 2 and 3 patients received budesonide 400 μg/day and terfenadine tablet 60 mg twice/day respectively. Nasal symptoms were assessed by the patients before and daily during the treatment period using a simple scoring system. One hundred and forty-two patients were recruited and 130 completed the study. Budesonide, but not terfenadine, significantly reduced all nasal symptoms from baseline (p<0.05). Terfenadine could significantly relieve the nasal blockage (p<0.05) more than other nasal symptoms. Budesonide with or without oxymetazoline nasal drops provided a better control of nasal symptoms than terfenadine (p<0.05). Budesonide with oxymetazoline for the first three days showed a faster relief of nasal blockage than budesonide alone (p<0.05). Mild and transient adverse effects were encountered in all three groups. It is concluded that nasal symptoms of perennial rhinitis are more adequately controlled by budesonide than by terfenadine.