Efficacy of Fluticasone and Oxymetazoline as the Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Background: The intranasal steroids remain the most effective treatment as all major symptoms of allergic rhinitis are effectively attenuated. However, addition of decongestant increases the response obtained along with intranasal steroids. The data on effect of addition of Oxymetazoline to fluticasone is limited. Hence, this study was done to compare the efficacy of fluticasone combined with oxymetazoline and fluticasone alone for a 4-week treatment course of allergic rhinitis. Methodology: In this randomized, open, parallel study, out of 123 patients randomly assigned to receive fluticasone with oxymetazoline (Group 1) or fluticasone alone (Group 2), 91 patients completed the entire 4 weeks of study. The primary outcome measure was mean change of the daytime nasal symptom score (PDTS) and secondary outcome measure was mean change of nighttime nasal symptom score (PNTS) and composite symptom score (PCS). Results: The change in total daytime nasal symptom, composite symptom, nightime nasal symptom score was significantly (p<0.05) greater in Group 1 as compared to Group 2. Sub-group analysis showed a significantly (p<0.05) greater improvement in congestion score from 2nd week onwards in Group 1. Conclusion: Oxymetazoline combined with fluticasone was effective in reducing daytime, night time, and composite symptom score as compared to fluticasone alone.

Keywords

• allergic rhinitis
• oxymetazoline
• fluticasone
• congestion