Biomaterial Database

Safety and efficacy of topical levocabastine compared with oral terfenadine. 1994

F A Bahmer, and K W Ruprecht

Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Hautklinik, Germany.

This double-blind, parallel-group study compared topical levocabastine (eye drops and nasal spray) and oral terfenadine in 27 patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis over a period of 8 weeks. The main aim of this trial was to assess the ocular tolerability of levocabastine eye drops. Comparison of therapeutic efficacy was a secondary study objective. Use of oral and ocular medication was mandatory, however the nasal spray was only to be used when required. The use of nasal spray was 46% in the levocabastine group and 56% in the terfenadine group. Ophthalmologic examinations indicated that levocabastine eye drops were well tolerated. The incidence of adverse reactions was 31% in the levocabastine group and 43% in the terfenadine group. At the end of the trial, a total of 88% of levocabastine-treated patients rated the effect of therapy on ocular symptoms to be excellent or good compared with 75% of those who received terfenadine, while 75% of patients in each group were satisfied with the effect of therapy on nasal symptoms. The investigator's evaluation of symptom severity revealed consistently better results with levocabastine. Levocabastine was significantly more effective than terfenadine in relieving ocular itching (p = .02). The patients' visual analogue scale ratings also showed significantly better results for levocabastine, particularly with respect to nasal symptoms. Levocabastine was significantly better than terfenadine for a number of symptoms on days when the pollen count was high. In conclusion, topical levocabastine appears to be a well-tolerated and effective alternative to oral terfenadine for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009883	Ophthalmic Solutions	Sterile solutions that are intended for instillation into the eye. It does not include solutions for cleaning eyeglasses or CONTACT LENS SOLUTIONS.	Eye Drop,Eyedrop,Eyedrops,Ophthalmic Solution,Eye Drops,Drop, Eye,Drops, Eye,Solution, Ophthalmic,Solutions, Ophthalmic
D010880	Piperidines	A family of hexahydropyridines.
D003233	Conjunctivitis, Allergic	Conjunctivitis due to hypersensitivity to various allergens.	Allergic Conjunctivitis,Conjunctivitis, Atopic,Conjunctivitis, Giant Papillary,Conjunctivitis, Vernal,Keratoconjunctivitis, Vernal,Allergic Conjunctivitides,Atopic Conjunctivitides,Atopic Conjunctivitis,Conjunctivitides, Allergic,Conjunctivitides, Atopic,Conjunctivitides, Giant Papillary,Conjunctivitides, Vernal,Giant Papillary Conjunctivitides,Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis,Keratoconjunctivitides, Vernal,Papillary Conjunctivitides, Giant,Papillary Conjunctivitis, Giant,Vernal Conjunctivitides,Vernal Conjunctivitis,Vernal Keratoconjunctivitides,Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
D004311	Double-Blind Method	A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment.	Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D005260	Female		Females
D006255	Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal	Allergic rhinitis that occurs at the same time every year. It is characterized by acute CONJUNCTIVITIS with lacrimation and ITCHING, and regarded as an allergic condition triggered by specific ALLERGENS.	Hay Fever,Pollen Allergy,Pollinosis,Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis,Hayfever,Allergic Rhinitides, Seasonal,Allergic Rhinitis, Seasonal,Allergies, Pollen,Allergy, Pollen,Fever, Hay,Pollen Allergies,Pollinoses,Rhinitides, Seasonal Allergic,Rhinitis, Seasonal Allergic,Seasonal Allergic Rhinitides
D006634	Histamine H1 Antagonists	Drugs that selectively bind to but do not activate histamine H1 receptors, thereby blocking the actions of endogenous histamine. Included here are the classical antihistaminics that antagonize or prevent the action of histamine mainly in immediate hypersensitivity. They act in the bronchi, capillaries, and some other smooth muscles, and are used to prevent or allay motion sickness, seasonal rhinitis, and allergic dermatitis and to induce somnolence. The effects of blocking central nervous system H1 receptors are not as well understood.	Antihistamines, Classical,Antihistaminics, Classical,Antihistaminics, H1,Histamine H1 Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists,Histamine H1 Receptor Blockaders,Antagonists, Histamine H1,Antagonists, Histamine H1 Receptor,Antihistamines, Sedating,Blockaders, Histamine H1 Receptor,First Generation H1 Antagonists,H1 Receptor Blockaders,Histamine H1 Blockers,Receptor Blockaders, H1,Antagonist, Histamine H1,Classical Antihistamines,Classical Antihistaminics,H1 Antagonist, Histamine,H1 Antagonists, Histamine,H1 Antihistaminics,Sedating Antihistamines
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000284	Administration, Oral	The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth.	Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations