A comparative evaluation of oral decongestants in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis

Orally administered decongestant drugs in disorders of the upper respiratory passages: a survey of clinical results

Side-effects of peroral mucous membrane decongesting agents have been described in recent years while at the same time documentation of the efficiency of these preparations is sparse. The prescription of the agents is very frequent. This article reviews the literature on the use of oral sympathomimetic agents for the treatment of diseases in the upper respiratory passages. The survey was initially instituted by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare to consider the indications for the prescription of these drugs. The article concludes with some suggested indications for these preparations.

Relieving symptoms of upper respiratory allergies and the common cold: azatadine maleate/pseudoephedrine sulfate syrup versus placebo

A total of 132 patients with symptoms associated with either upper respiratory allergies or the common cold was enrolled in this 5-day study. Azatadine maleate/pseudoephedrine sulfate syrup was compared to placebo using a double-blind design. Evaluation of efficacy was based on results in eighty patients and that of safety in 115. Onset of relief was significantly better (p = 0.03) with azatadine maleate/pseudoephedrine sulfate syrup than with placebo. However this was due mainly to the distribution of patients who indicated 'no relief': ten in the combination group as opposed to sixteen in the placebo group. Over-all evaluation of results indicated that a significantly greater degree of symptomatic relief was achieved with the active test formulation than with placebo on both Days 3 (p = 0.03) and 5 (p = 0.04) of therapy. Somnolence was the most frequently reported side-effect.

Disophrol syrup versus Rinomar syrup in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children

In this single-blind study, the efficacy and safety of Disophrol Syrup was compared to Rinomar Syrup in seventy-eight paediatric patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Patients took 5-10 ml of the randomly assigned medication three to four times daily for a 2-week period. Severity of nasal obstruction, nasal secretion and mucosal swelling was graded and patient response to each week of therapy evaluated. An overall favourable response to Disophrol Syrup was observed in thirty-one out of thirty-five (89%) patients and in thirty out of thirty-five (86%) patients in the Rinomar group. No statistically significant difference in patient response to therapy between treatment groups was noted and no mentionable adverse reactions were reported.