The adherence in patients with atopic diseases treated with loratadine

Introduction: Atopic diseases are mainly chronic disorders developing at the base of hypersensitivity reactions. Loratadine is an anti-histamine drug with potential of inflammation and allergy symptoms minimizing. Reaching the best treatment results needs patient's cooperation. The study was focused on loratadine treated patients' adherence. Material and methods: In adult patients taking loratadine according to doctor's recommendations minimum one month before enrolment the questionnaire survey was realized during two consecutive routine control visits in an outpatient clinic. The data of clinical indication for loratadine, other chronic diseases and prescribed medications, regularity of loratadine taking and the possible causes of doses omission as well as patient's and doctor's estimation of clinical course of atopic disease were collected. Results: In 36 960 adult patients (41.38 +/- 15.05 years old; 53.3% of women) treated by general practitioners (58.76% of doctors) and specialists, loratadine was recommended because of seasonal allergic rhinitis (44.82%), allergic conjunctivitis (25.25%), perennial allergic rhinitis (16.37%) and urticaria (13.56%). The majority of participants stated that loratadine treatment should not be ceased, but regular intake was realized only in about 40%. The irregular treatment was most frequent in patients beneath 30 years old (25.85% of study group) and in patients with concomitant diseases (37.71% of all participants). Predominant cause of irregular loratadine taking were organizational fails, symptoms relief and belief, that the disease is cured, and apprehension of drug side effects. In the end of the first visit 97% of patients were given additional information about atopic diseases and during the next one the percentage of organizational fails in treatment was significantly lower. Conclusions: Adherence of loratadine treated patients appeared far unsatisfied. Patients with atopic diseases should be offered more information about them and the rules of treatment.