COMPARATIVE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF LORATADINE AND CETIRIZINE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC URTICARIA

In this double-blind, randomized study, 46 patients with chronic idiop athic urticaria received loratadine 10 mg once daily (n=24) or cetiriz ine 10 mg once daily (n=22) for 2 weeks. At study end, the two agents showed comparable efficacy (loratadine 78% improvement, cetirizine 79% improvement) on physician-evaluated change in pruritus. Improvement w as also similar for number and size of hives and erythema. By study en d, 60% of loratadine recipients and 53% of cetirizine recipients had c omplete relief of symptoms. The greater reduction in wheals and flares seen with cetirizine was neither statistically significant nor clinic ally relevant. Both agents were well tolerated, except for cetirizine- associated sedation in 2 patients.