A CLINICAL COMPARISON OF INTRANASAL BUDESONIDE WITH BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE FOR PERENNIAL NONALLERGIC RHINITIS - A 12 MONTH STUDY

To evaluate possible differences in efficacy and safety between budeso nide and beclomethasone dipropionate when used intranasally in the tre atment of perennial non-allergic rhinitis, a 12-month open study was u ndertaken in 24 patients suffering from perennial non-allergic rhiniti s, Both drugs were applied intranasally from pressurised aerosols at a daily dosage of 400 mu g On entry and at visits after 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 a nd 12 months, rhinoscopy was performed and the severity of nasal sympt oms graded according to a four-point rating scale, All nasal symptoms were reduced from baseline during the treatment period in both groups, Tachyphylaxis was not observed, No clinically significant changes in haematology or blood chemistry parameters were observed in either grou p, and analysis of plasma cortisol levels revealed no influence of eit her drug on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Local adverse rea ctions were uncommon and mild. Budesonide and beclomethasone dipropion ate used intranasally at 400 mu g per day were found to be safe, and b udesonide was found to have a significantly higher (p<0,05) efficacy t han beclomethasone dipropionate in alleviating symptoms of perennial n on-allergic rhinitis.