A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 34 patients suffering from osteo-arthritis of the knee. A total of 40 joints was treated at random with 3 intra-articular injections, at 1 week intervals, of either 20 mg sodium hyaluronate or placebo. Clinical examinations, including assessments of spontaneous pain intensity, pain on touch, under load and while walking, were made before each injection and repeated 7 days after the last one and again at 60 days after the start of the trial. The results showed a significant difference between treatments for all the variables assessed. In the sodium hyaluronate group, pain relief was not only rapid but also long lasting. Local tolerance was very good for both treatments.
{"title":"Intra-articular treatment with sodium hyaluronate in gonarthrosis: a controlled clinical trial versus placebo.","authors":"G Grecomoro, U Martorana, C Di Marco","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 34 patients suffering from osteo-arthritis of the knee. A total of 40 joints was treated at random with 3 intra-articular injections, at 1 week intervals, of either 20 mg sodium hyaluronate or placebo. Clinical examinations, including assessments of spontaneous pain intensity, pain on touch, under load and while walking, were made before each injection and repeated 7 days after the last one and again at 60 days after the start of the trial. The results showed a significant difference between treatments for all the variables assessed. In the sodium hyaluronate group, pain relief was not only rapid but also long lasting. Local tolerance was very good for both treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"137-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14438297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
An open study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerance of oral zuclopenthixol in 40 patients with functional psychotic illness. Patients received zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride (25 mg tablets) in daily doses of 25 to 150 mg according to clinical response. Assessments were performed at weekly intervals using either the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) or the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), as appropriate; in addition, a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) was recorded and side-effect inventory completed. Patients were to be studied for a maximum of 13 weeks or until a successful response to treatment was obtained. Success was defined as a score of less than 15 on the BRMS or BPRS, accompanied by a marked or moderate improvement on the CGI. Twenty-six (65.0%) patients had a successful response to treatment within 3 weeks; this increased to 35 (87.5%) by Week 4. There were significant reductions in the total BPRS and total BRMS scores from Week 1 onwards. Most sub-scales and sub-items also showed significant improvements. Four patients were withdrawn from the study, (3 due to lack of efficacy and 1 with side-effects). One patient was non-evaluable due to concomitant chlorpromazine therapy. Side-effects were slight and the medication was well tolerated. Twenty-five patients received antiparkinsonian treatment during the study.
{"title":"The use of oral zuclopenthixol in the treatment of functional psychotic illness.","authors":"F J Bereen, F B Harte, J Maguire, A N Singh","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An open study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerance of oral zuclopenthixol in 40 patients with functional psychotic illness. Patients received zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride (25 mg tablets) in daily doses of 25 to 150 mg according to clinical response. Assessments were performed at weekly intervals using either the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) or the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), as appropriate; in addition, a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) was recorded and side-effect inventory completed. Patients were to be studied for a maximum of 13 weeks or until a successful response to treatment was obtained. Success was defined as a score of less than 15 on the BRMS or BPRS, accompanied by a marked or moderate improvement on the CGI. Twenty-six (65.0%) patients had a successful response to treatment within 3 weeks; this increased to 35 (87.5%) by Week 4. There were significant reductions in the total BPRS and total BRMS scores from Week 1 onwards. Most sub-scales and sub-items also showed significant improvements. Four patients were withdrawn from the study, (3 due to lack of efficacy and 1 with side-effects). One patient was non-evaluable due to concomitant chlorpromazine therapy. Side-effects were slight and the medication was well tolerated. Twenty-five patients received antiparkinsonian treatment during the study.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 1","pages":"62-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14723776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A series of studies was carried out in infants and children suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux to assess the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of alizapride, a recently developed dopaminergic-receptor blocker. Investigational techniques such as manometry, pH monitoring, endoscopy and scintigraphy were used to evaluate a prokinetic activity of the drug and its effects on oesophageal and gastric motility when given by the intravenous and oral routes. Preliminary findings indicate that alizapride had a significant effect on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and peristaltic wave amplitude, but the evidence for an effect on gastric motility was less clear. Long-term treatment with oral alizapride (usually in a dosage of 5 mg/kg/day) suggests that it produced marked symptomatic improvement and was very well tolerated in the majority of the patients studied. A double-blind controlled trial is now in progress to provide more objective evidence of the usefulness of alizapride in the management of digestive tract motor disorders in paediatric patients.
{"title":"Gastro-oesophageal reflux in paediatric patients: studies with alizapride.","authors":"S Cadranel, C Di Lorenzo, P Rodesch","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A series of studies was carried out in infants and children suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux to assess the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of alizapride, a recently developed dopaminergic-receptor blocker. Investigational techniques such as manometry, pH monitoring, endoscopy and scintigraphy were used to evaluate a prokinetic activity of the drug and its effects on oesophageal and gastric motility when given by the intravenous and oral routes. Preliminary findings indicate that alizapride had a significant effect on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and peristaltic wave amplitude, but the evidence for an effect on gastric motility was less clear. Long-term treatment with oral alizapride (usually in a dosage of 5 mg/kg/day) suggests that it produced marked symptomatic improvement and was very well tolerated in the majority of the patients studied. A double-blind controlled trial is now in progress to provide more objective evidence of the usefulness of alizapride in the management of digestive tract motor disorders in paediatric patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 1","pages":"9-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14723777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used medicinally for centuries and still is included in the traditional medicine of most cultures. Recently, there has been renewed interest in its role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and its effectiveness in offsetting the risks of such conditions. The results of numerous studies are reviewed; they show that garlic can bring about plasma lipids normalization, enhancement of fibrinolytic activity, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and reductions in blood pressure and blood glucose. It is concluded that garlic has potential in the prevention and control of cardiovascular disorders.
{"title":"Cardiovascular effects of garlic (Allium sativum): a review.","authors":"E Ernst","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used medicinally for centuries and still is included in the traditional medicine of most cultures. Recently, there has been renewed interest in its role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and its effectiveness in offsetting the risks of such conditions. The results of numerous studies are reviewed; they show that garlic can bring about plasma lipids normalization, enhancement of fibrinolytic activity, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and reductions in blood pressure and blood glucose. It is concluded that garlic has potential in the prevention and control of cardiovascular disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"83-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14438299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E Ferrari, M Fioravanti, A L Patti, C Viola, S B Solerte
Twenty-one insulin-dependent and 30 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were treated over 48 months with pentoxifylline ('Trental' 400) 1200 mg/day orally. All patients had haemorheological alterations and vascular complications. A marked improvement in erythrocyte deformability and a reduction in plasma fibrinogen levels was already evident after 6 months of therapy; these improvements were maintained throughout the 48 months of the study and were independent of short-term and long-term glycometabolic changes. The normalization of blood rheology pattern was associated with a significant decrease in total urinary protein excretion rate and in urinary albumin excretion rate. An improvement in both microvascular, i.e., retinopathy and nephropathy, and macrovascular, i.e. ischaemic heart disease and peripheral occlusive arterial disease, complications was demonstrated after the long-term trial with pentoxifylline. No side-effects occurred during the observation period. These data suggest that pentoxifylline may have an important role in both the treatment of diabetic haemorheological changes and renal disorders and in the prevention of accompanying degenerative vascular complications.
{"title":"Effects of long-term treatment (4 years) with pentoxifylline on haemorheological changes and vascular complications in diabetic patients.","authors":"E Ferrari, M Fioravanti, A L Patti, C Viola, S B Solerte","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Twenty-one insulin-dependent and 30 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were treated over 48 months with pentoxifylline ('Trental' 400) 1200 mg/day orally. All patients had haemorheological alterations and vascular complications. A marked improvement in erythrocyte deformability and a reduction in plasma fibrinogen levels was already evident after 6 months of therapy; these improvements were maintained throughout the 48 months of the study and were independent of short-term and long-term glycometabolic changes. The normalization of blood rheology pattern was associated with a significant decrease in total urinary protein excretion rate and in urinary albumin excretion rate. An improvement in both microvascular, i.e., retinopathy and nephropathy, and macrovascular, i.e. ischaemic heart disease and peripheral occlusive arterial disease, complications was demonstrated after the long-term trial with pentoxifylline. No side-effects occurred during the observation period. These data suggest that pentoxifylline may have an important role in both the treatment of diabetic haemorheological changes and renal disorders and in the prevention of accompanying degenerative vascular complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 1","pages":"26-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14723773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P L Antignani, A R Todini, F Saliceti, G Pacino, M Bartolo
A study was carried out in 127 patients (94 males and 33 females) presenting with arteriosclerosis (88 patients) or diabetic vasculopathy (39 patients) in different stages of severity (Fontaine) to assess the effectiveness and tolerance of treatment with high doses of pentoxifylline. Patients received a daily dosage of 2200 mg, given as 800 mg orally and 300 mg by intravenous infusion in saline twice daily, for a mean period of 15.8 days. Relevant clinical parameters were assessed and measurements made of biological and laboratory indices before and after treatment. The results showed that intermittent claudication was improved in 52.4% of the arteriosclerotic and 50% of the diabetic patients Stage II disease, pain at rest disappeared in 64% and 78% of patients in Stage III, respectively, and trophic lesions in Stage IV patients were reduced or became less clearly marked in 47% and 44%, respectively. Arterial blood pressure, recorded on the tibial arteries using Doppler ultrasound, showed a mean increase of 18%, but no significant changes in blood flow were evident from rheographic examination. Whole blood erythrocyte filtration time was reduced by a mean of 8%. The main changes in the biological indices after treatment were decreases in haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and blood fibrinogen values, but these were not statistically significant. The other variables showed little if any change. Side-effects initially reported by the patients consisted of headache, nausea, sweating, pruritus and general malaise, and were mainly associated with the infusion time and regressed in most cases when this was extended.
{"title":"Results of clinical, laboratory and haemorheological investigations of the use of pentoxifylline in high doses.","authors":"P L Antignani, A R Todini, F Saliceti, G Pacino, M Bartolo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A study was carried out in 127 patients (94 males and 33 females) presenting with arteriosclerosis (88 patients) or diabetic vasculopathy (39 patients) in different stages of severity (Fontaine) to assess the effectiveness and tolerance of treatment with high doses of pentoxifylline. Patients received a daily dosage of 2200 mg, given as 800 mg orally and 300 mg by intravenous infusion in saline twice daily, for a mean period of 15.8 days. Relevant clinical parameters were assessed and measurements made of biological and laboratory indices before and after treatment. The results showed that intermittent claudication was improved in 52.4% of the arteriosclerotic and 50% of the diabetic patients Stage II disease, pain at rest disappeared in 64% and 78% of patients in Stage III, respectively, and trophic lesions in Stage IV patients were reduced or became less clearly marked in 47% and 44%, respectively. Arterial blood pressure, recorded on the tibial arteries using Doppler ultrasound, showed a mean increase of 18%, but no significant changes in blood flow were evident from rheographic examination. Whole blood erythrocyte filtration time was reduced by a mean of 8%. The main changes in the biological indices after treatment were decreases in haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and blood fibrinogen values, but these were not statistically significant. The other variables showed little if any change. Side-effects initially reported by the patients consisted of headache, nausea, sweating, pruritus and general malaise, and were mainly associated with the infusion time and regressed in most cases when this was extended.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 1","pages":"50-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14723774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fendiline is an anti-anginal agent for the treatment of coronary heart disease. Together with other diphenylalkylamines it is sub-classified in the group of lipophilic calcium antagonists. It binds to the calcium channel and to calmodulin with rather similar affinities. Pharmaco-dynamically, it exerts the typical calcium as well as calmodulin antagonistic actions: inhibition of the transmembrane calcium current, smooth muscle relaxation, negative inotropism, cardioprotection, inhibition of calmodulin-activated myosin light-chain kinase and phosphodiesterase. Pharmacokinetics reveal slow onset of action and a long half-life. The anti-anginal and anti-ischaemic efficacy of fendiline has been proven in several placebo-controlled, double-blind trials. It does not interfere with digoxin therapy. Direct comparison with other calcium antagonists by means of controlled studies revealed that its potency is at least equal to that of nifedipine but, in contrast to nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem, its anti-anginal action increases during chronic therapy, reaching a steady state of action after 2 to 3 weeks. In addition, the anti-ischaemic and anti-anginal potency is about equal to that of isosorbide dinitrate but fendiline has the advantage of lacking tolerance development. Nevertheless, the data presented indicate that a combination of fendiline with low doses of ISDN may be beneficial. Adverse cardiac and haemodynamic actions, such as increase or decrease in heart rate, disturbance of AV nodal conduction, impairment of cardiac contractile performance or considerable decrease in arterial pressure in hypotensives and normotensives, are lacking.
{"title":"Fendiline: a review of its basic pharmacological and clinical properties.","authors":"R Bayer, R Mannhold","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fendiline is an anti-anginal agent for the treatment of coronary heart disease. Together with other diphenylalkylamines it is sub-classified in the group of lipophilic calcium antagonists. It binds to the calcium channel and to calmodulin with rather similar affinities. Pharmaco-dynamically, it exerts the typical calcium as well as calmodulin antagonistic actions: inhibition of the transmembrane calcium current, smooth muscle relaxation, negative inotropism, cardioprotection, inhibition of calmodulin-activated myosin light-chain kinase and phosphodiesterase. Pharmacokinetics reveal slow onset of action and a long half-life. The anti-anginal and anti-ischaemic efficacy of fendiline has been proven in several placebo-controlled, double-blind trials. It does not interfere with digoxin therapy. Direct comparison with other calcium antagonists by means of controlled studies revealed that its potency is at least equal to that of nifedipine but, in contrast to nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem, its anti-anginal action increases during chronic therapy, reaching a steady state of action after 2 to 3 weeks. In addition, the anti-ischaemic and anti-anginal potency is about equal to that of isosorbide dinitrate but fendiline has the advantage of lacking tolerance development. Nevertheless, the data presented indicate that a combination of fendiline with low doses of ISDN may be beneficial. Adverse cardiac and haemodynamic actions, such as increase or decrease in heart rate, disturbance of AV nodal conduction, impairment of cardiac contractile performance or considerable decrease in arterial pressure in hypotensives and normotensives, are lacking.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"103-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14438296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A 19-year old female with catatonia associated with multi-system involvement with systemic lupus erythematosus is described. There was no evidence of CNS involvement (negative CT scan, normal EEG, normal ice-caloric response, and normal CSF findings). The patient improved on large doses of steroids. It is suggested that cerebral lupus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of catatonia even in the absence of radiological and focal neurological signs when the active disease is present.
{"title":"Lupus catatonia: a case report.","authors":"T K Daradkeh, N S Nasrallah","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 19-year old female with catatonia associated with multi-system involvement with systemic lupus erythematosus is described. There was no evidence of CNS involvement (negative CT scan, normal EEG, normal ice-caloric response, and normal CSF findings). The patient improved on large doses of steroids. It is suggested that cerebral lupus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of catatonia even in the absence of radiological and focal neurological signs when the active disease is present.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"142-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14780483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Cropper, A Garner, G D McEwan, D F Munt, L A Rushbrook, V Stevens, A C Baker
One hundred patients with mixed symptoms of anxiety and depression were enrolled into a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, double-blind study comparing the response to, and the side-effects of, alprazolam and dothiepin hydrochloride over 4 weeks of treatment. Mean daily doses were 2.33 mg alprazolam and 115 mg dothiepin. Data on 96 patients were evaluated for tolerance, and data for 85 patients were analyzed for therapeutic response. In each case, the groups were similar in numbers, mean ages and sex ratios. Both groups experienced satisfactory responses to therapy, with highly statistically significant changes (p less than 0.001) in the means of all efficacy measures within each group. No statistical difference was demonstrated in favour of either treatment group. Both dothiepin and alprazolam exhibited a similar profile of mild minor side-effects, but more patients suffered moderate to severe reactions to dothiepin, leading to a greater drop-out rate in the dothiepin-treated group. It is concluded that, as both treatments produced equally satisfactory responses in this study, alprazolam should be considered for the treatment of anxiety associated with depression in patients for whom tricyclic antidepressant drugs are either contra-indicated or poorly tolerated.
{"title":"A double-blind comparative study of alprazolam and dothiepin hydrochloride in the treatment of anxiety associated with depression.","authors":"M Cropper, A Garner, G D McEwan, D F Munt, L A Rushbrook, V Stevens, A C Baker","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One hundred patients with mixed symptoms of anxiety and depression were enrolled into a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, double-blind study comparing the response to, and the side-effects of, alprazolam and dothiepin hydrochloride over 4 weeks of treatment. Mean daily doses were 2.33 mg alprazolam and 115 mg dothiepin. Data on 96 patients were evaluated for tolerance, and data for 85 patients were analyzed for therapeutic response. In each case, the groups were similar in numbers, mean ages and sex ratios. Both groups experienced satisfactory responses to therapy, with highly statistically significant changes (p less than 0.001) in the means of all efficacy measures within each group. No statistical difference was demonstrated in favour of either treatment group. Both dothiepin and alprazolam exhibited a similar profile of mild minor side-effects, but more patients suffered moderate to severe reactions to dothiepin, leading to a greater drop-out rate in the dothiepin-treated group. It is concluded that, as both treatments produced equally satisfactory responses in this study, alprazolam should be considered for the treatment of anxiety associated with depression in patients for whom tricyclic antidepressant drugs are either contra-indicated or poorly tolerated.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"76-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14438298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E A Pastorello, C Ortolani, S Gerosa, V Pravettoni, L R Codecasa, A Fugazza, C Zanussi
A double-blind study was carried out in 65 patients with seasonal rhinitis to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of terfenadine and dexchlorpheniramine. Patients were allocated at random to receive treatment for 1 week with either 60 mg terfenadine twice daily or 2 mg dexchlorpheniramine maleate 3-times daily. Before and after treatment, patients underwent RAST and skin prick tests for reactivity to pollen and those who were positive also had rhinomanometric measurements made of nasal resistance. Diary cards were used by patients to record the severity of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea, sneezing, watery, irritated and red eyes, itching of the nose, throat and eyes, and cough. Details were also kept of the frequency and severity of any side-effects. Pollen counts were taken daily during the treatment period. The results showed that both terfenadine and dexchlorpheniramine produced good or excellent relief of the main symptoms in 78% and 73% of the patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the pollen count and reduced symptom severity. Both drugs produced a reduction in total nasal resistance but this was not significantly different from initial values, neither was there a significant difference between treatment. Terfenadine was well tolerated and side-effects incidence was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) than in patients treated with dexchlorpheniramine, particularly so with reference to drowsiness.
{"title":"Antihistaminic treatment of allergic rhinitis: a double-blind study with terfenadine versus dexchlorpheniramine.","authors":"E A Pastorello, C Ortolani, S Gerosa, V Pravettoni, L R Codecasa, A Fugazza, C Zanussi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A double-blind study was carried out in 65 patients with seasonal rhinitis to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of terfenadine and dexchlorpheniramine. Patients were allocated at random to receive treatment for 1 week with either 60 mg terfenadine twice daily or 2 mg dexchlorpheniramine maleate 3-times daily. Before and after treatment, patients underwent RAST and skin prick tests for reactivity to pollen and those who were positive also had rhinomanometric measurements made of nasal resistance. Diary cards were used by patients to record the severity of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea, sneezing, watery, irritated and red eyes, itching of the nose, throat and eyes, and cough. Details were also kept of the frequency and severity of any side-effects. Pollen counts were taken daily during the treatment period. The results showed that both terfenadine and dexchlorpheniramine produced good or excellent relief of the main symptoms in 78% and 73% of the patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the pollen count and reduced symptom severity. Both drugs produced a reduction in total nasal resistance but this was not significantly different from initial values, neither was there a significant difference between treatment. Terfenadine was well tolerated and side-effects incidence was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) than in patients treated with dexchlorpheniramine, particularly so with reference to drowsiness.</p>","PeriodicalId":19862,"journal":{"name":"Pharmatherapeutica","volume":"5 2","pages":"69-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14025805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}