cinnarizine and Conjunctivitis

The new antiallergic drug oxatomide was evaluated in 40 schoolchildren suffering from severe allergic seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis. Antihistamine drugs had earlier given insufficient symptomatic relief. Double-blind technique was used. There was no significant difference in effect between oxatomide, the antihistamine cinnarizine in combination with phenylpropanolamine and placebo. The results do not support the hypothesis that oxatomide is superior to antihistamine drugs in the treatment of severe seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cinnarizine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Phenylpropanolamine; Piperazines; Placebos; Poaceae; Pollen; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Trees

This double-blind study suggests that oxatomide may be considered a first-line alternative in the treatment of allergic follicular conjunctivitis. For 4 weeks 18 patients were treated with oxatomide at a dosage of 30 mg b.i.d. A randomized control group of 17 patients received a placebo. Already after 2 weeks, and more marked after 4 weeks, oxatomide produced a significantly higher reduction of itching and follicles than the placebo, involving a lower use of supplementary antihistamine medication. Globally, an excellent or good result was obtained in 78% of the oxatomide-treated patients but only in 29% of the placebo-treated patients. In the drug group 1 patient had gastrointestinal complaints and 1 felt slightly sleepy.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cinnarizine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Middle Aged; Piperazines; Placebos; Pruritus; Random Allocation