Cost-effective pharmacotherapy for allergic rhinitis. 1998

B J Ferguson
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.

This article provides guidelines for pharmacotherapy to maximize symptom relief from allergic rhinitis. Consideration of frequency, severity, and site of symptoms is important in directing pharmacotherapy efficacy and maximizing cost-effectiveness. The agents available include antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, mast cell stabilizers, anticholinergic agents, and mucolytics. Appropriate indications for each and combinations of various agents are discussed within the context of drug efficacy, side effects, affordability, and ease of compliance. The direct and indirect costs of allergic rhinitis are not well delineated but are explored to put the costs of therapy in perspective.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008407 Mast Cells Granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the BASOPHILS, mast cells contain large amounts of HISTAMINE and HEPARIN. Unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood. Mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by the STEM CELL FACTOR. Basophils, Tissue,Basophil, Tissue,Cell, Mast,Cells, Mast,Mast Cell,Tissue Basophil,Tissue Basophils
D010349 Patient Compliance Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen. Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D003362 Cost-Benefit Analysis A method of comparing the cost of a program with its expected benefits in dollars (or other currency). The benefit-to-cost ratio is a measure of total return expected per unit of money spent. This analysis generally excludes consideration of factors that are not measured ultimately in economic terms. In contrast a cost effectiveness in general compares cost with qualitative outcomes. Cost and Benefit,Cost-Benefit Data,Benefits and Costs,Cost Benefit,Cost Benefit Analysis,Cost-Utility Analysis,Costs and Benefits,Economic Evaluation,Marginal Analysis,Analyses, Cost Benefit,Analysis, Cost Benefit,Analysis, Cost-Benefit,Analysis, Cost-Utility,Analysis, Marginal,Benefit and Cost,Cost Benefit Analyses,Cost Benefit Data,Cost Utility Analysis,Cost-Benefit Analyses,Cost-Utility Analyses,Data, Cost-Benefit,Economic Evaluations,Evaluation, Economic,Marginal Analyses
D004180 Direct Service Costs Costs which are directly identifiable with a particular service. Costs, Direct Service,Service Costs, Direct,Cost, Direct Service,Direct Service Cost,Service Cost, Direct
D004338 Drug Combinations Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D005100 Expectorants Agents that increase mucous excretion. Mucolytic agents, that is drugs that liquefy mucous secretions, are also included here. Expectorant,Mucolytic,Mucolytic Agent,Mucolytic Agents,Mucolytics,Agent, Mucolytic,Agents, Mucolytic
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
D000305 Adrenal Cortex Hormones HORMONES produced by the ADRENAL CORTEX, including both steroid and peptide hormones. The major hormones produced are HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE. Adrenal Cortex Hormone,Corticoid,Corticoids,Corticosteroid,Corticosteroids,Cortex Hormone, Adrenal,Hormone, Adrenal Cortex,Hormones, Adrenal Cortex

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