A comparative study of efficacy and tolerability of cetirizine and bilastine in patients of allergic rhinitis: An open-label, randomized, parallel-group study.

Abstract

Purpose: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type 1 allergic disease of the nasal mucosa, characterized by paroxysmal repetitive sneezing, watery rhinorrhea, and nasal blockage with the prevalence of 25% worldwide. Bilastine is a newer second-generation H1 antihistaminic approved for the symptomatic treatment of AR and chronic urticaria in patients older than 12 years. To date, there are very few studies in the Indian population comparing the efficacy, safety, and its effect on cognition of bilastine with second-generation antihistaminics. Hence, the study was planned to assess and compare the efficacy, tolerability, and the effect on cognition of cetirizine and bilastine in patients of AR.

Aim: The aim is to assess and compare the efficacy and tolerability of cetirizine and bilastine in patients with AR.

Materials and methods: It was a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, comparative study conducted on 80 patients of AR attending the ENT outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients were divided into two groups of 40 each. They received either cetirizine 10 mg or bilastine 20 mg once daily for 2 weeks, and efficacy and tolerability were assessed at 2 weeks follow-up visits.

Results: The difference in mean total symptom score was significant in bilastine as well as cetirizine, which showed that bilastine was equally efficacious as cetirizine. Adverse events were reported more in the cetirizine group.

Conclusion: Bilastine is equally efficacious as cetirizine and a favorable tolerability profile may make it a more tolerable H1-antihistaminic than cetirizine.