EVALUATION OF FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE AQUEOUS NASAL SPRAY TAKEN ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH CETIRIZINE IN THE PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS

This was a multicentre, double-blind study in 454 patients to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of fluticasone propionate nasal spray (FPANS) 200 mu g used once daily for 8 weeks on its own or in combination with oral cetirizine 10mg once daily in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The results showed no significant difference between treatments in any of the symptoms or in the proportion of symptom-free days. Watery eyes were recorded as being the most troublesome symptom in the previous hayfever season, whilst during the study patients were, on average, free of eye symptoms for 56% of the time. Additionally, no difference was detected between the two groups with regard to the use of rescue medication. More than 75% of patients concluded at the end of the study that their symptoms had been adequately controlled and, similarly, investigators rated both treatments as being successful for the majority of patients. Overall, this study suggests that there is no significant difference in efficacy between FPANS 200 mu g, taken once daily in the morning, and FPANS 200 mu g once daily in combination with oral cetirizine 10mg, in the prophylactic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.