Source: Haematologica  |  Posted 6 years ago

By Crystal Phend

ANAHEIM, CA -- November 7, 2005 -- Desloratadine (Clarinex) is as effective as fexofenadine (Allegra) for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, according to a study presented here at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

Other published data showed loratadine (Claratin) to be less effective than fexofenadine, so there was the perception that desloratadine, a metabolite of loratadine, might be inferior as well.

"Since this study had never been done, it was constantly a question," said lead author William Berger, medical director, Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California, Mission Viejo, California.

The multicenter, double-blind study is the first to compare the 2 newer-generation antihistamines in the United States. Patients were randomized to receive 5 mg of desloratadine (290), 180 mg of fexofenadine (288), or placebo (144) once daily for 15 days. Demographics were similar between groups.

Study subjects were at least 12 years old and had seasonal allergic rhinitis for at least 2 years.

Results show that the 2 treatment arms achieved similar levels of efficacy and were both significantly more effective than placebo for reduction of morning instantaneous total symptoms scores and 12-hour daytime individual symptoms scores, excluding nasal congestion.

On the follow-up visit at day 8, both treatments achieved a significantly greater mean therapeutic response compared with placebo but had reduced to a nonsignificant trend on day 15.

Overall, the most common adverse effects were nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and drowsiness. Adverse events occurred in 18.1% of fexofenadine patients, 10.7% of patients on desloratadine, and 13.2% receiving placebo.

The authors concluded that both active treatments provided similarly effective for achievement of 24-hour symptom relief. "It gives patients a choice and it gives doctors a choice," Dr. Berger said.

The study was supported by Schering-Plough.

[Presentation title: Efficacy of Desloratadine (DL) 5 Mg Compared With Fexofenadine (FEX) 180 Mg in Patients With Symptomatic Allergic Rhinitis (SAR). Abstract P128]