Antihistamine spray eases seasonal allergies

Astelin nasal spray may be effective for people with seasonal allergies who still have symptoms when they take Allegra, according to a new study.

"Currently available oral second-generation antihistamines do not provide adequate symptom relief for many allergy patients," Dr. Craig F. LaForce, of Carolina Allergy and Asthma Consultants, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and colleagues observe.

The researchers looked at whether Astelin nasal spray improved symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis who remained symptomatic after Allegra treatment, in a two-week study reported in the August issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

All the participants were first given Allegra twice daily for one week. The 334 patients who improved little were then randomly assigned to take Astelin (2 sprays per nostril twice daily), or Astelin plus Allegra twice daily, or a placebo nasal spray and a placebo capsule twice daily.

The main measurement of treatment effectiveness was the change over two weeks in the total nasal symptom score - that is, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal congestion symptom scores.

After two weeks of treatment, the average change in the overall symptom score was 18.5 percent with Astelin nasal spray, 18.3 percent with Astelin plus Allegra, and 10.5 percent with placebo treatment.

Given these findings, the researchers conclude that Astelin is effective by itself and "should be considered in the initial management of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis."

SOURCE: Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, August 2004.