Olopatadine ophthalmic solution adjunctive to loratadine compared with loratadine alone in patients with active seasonal allergic conjunctivitis symptoms

Background: Olopatadine ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Patanol, Alcon Laboratori es, Fort Woth, TX) is approved for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Loratadine 10 mg (Claritin, Schering-Plough, Ma dison, NJ) is a nonsedating oral antihistamine approved for the treatment o f the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Objective: To compare the efficacy of olopatadine used adjunctively with lo ratadine versus loratadine alone in patients with seasonal allergic conjunc tivitis. Methods: This three-center, observer-masked, treatment-controlled, randomiz ed, parallel-group study involved patients aged 7 to 74 years with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Patients were treated for 7 days with either olop atadine twice daily adjunctive to loratadine once daily or only loratadine once daily. Efficacy variables (ocular itching and redness, physician's imp ression, patient's impression, patient diary ratings of ocular redness and itching), and safety parameters were evaluated during the screening visit a nd on days 0, 3, and 7. Patients completed the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire on days 0 and 7. Results: Ninety-four patients: received study drug. Patients receiving olop atadine twice daily in addition to loratadine once daily exhibited less ocu lar itching (P = 0.0436) and rated their ocular condition as more improved compared with those receiving loratadine alone (P < 0.0022). Twenty minutes after initial dosing, olopatadine plus loratadine relieved ocular itching and redness significantly better than loratadine alone (P = 0.001). Both tr eatment groups showed clinically meaningful improvements in overall quality of life in all but one of the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life question naire domains. Overall, and in most domains, olopatadine plus loratadine al so provided significantly better (P < 0.05) quality of life than loratadine alone at day 7. Conclusions: Compared with loratadine alone, olopatadine adjunctive to lora tadine provides greater relief of ocular itching and redness, a better dual ity of life, and is well tolerated in patients with seasonal allergic conju nctivitis.