ON-DEMAND THERAPY OF SEASONAL ALLERGIC RH INOCONJUNCTIVITIS WITH THE TOPICAL ANTIHISTAMINE LEVOCABASTINE

In 1992 and 1993 patients with history and acute symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were treated with the topical antihistami ne Levocabastine. In an open label multicenter trial 102 patients were allowed to choose dosage of both nasal spray and eye drops according to their individual severity of symptoms ranging between twice and fou r times daily. In a patient's diary they documented efficacy as well a s daily dosage over a period of 4 weeks. On 3 visits the investigators performed assessment of nasal and ocular symptoms and global efficacy . Statistical analysis of the patients' ratings as well as the investi gators' scores demonstrated a significantly marked decrease of both na sal and ocular symptoms over the first 2 weeks that continued less pro nounced over the following 2 weeks. More than 50% of the patients chan ged dosage during the trial. Mean frequency of nasal (2.24/day) and oc ular (2.17/day) applications was about 10% higher than the recommended dosage of both application forms. In absence of any symptoms some pat ients renounced application of the drug, especially of the eye drops. Nevertheless there was no case of insufficient therapy reported when t he investigators rated more than 80% of the patients being free of sym ptoms or at least showing marked relief of symptoms at the end of the trial. Tolerability of levocabastine again proved to be good. Applicat ion site reactions were the most frequently (eye drops: 6%; nasal spra y: 2%) reported adverse events.