Desloratacline is effective at relieving nasal congestion, as demonstrated in three placebo-controlled trials in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

Desloratadine is a new antiallergic agent that has inherent decongestant properties. it has been shown to provide full 24-h symptom relief in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and other allergic conditions. Nasal congestion/stuffiness is a common symptom of SAR and is related to the late-phase allergic response. Currently available oral histamine H-1-receptor antagonists are not effective for treating nasal congestion. The effect of desloratadine 5 mg once daily on nasal congestion was evaluated in three separate, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter studies in patients with at least a 2-year history of SAR and moderate or severe symptoms at baseline. Studies 1 and 2 were 4-week studies of patients with SAR and concurrent asthma. Study 3 was a 2-week study of patients with SAR. These three studies enrolled a total Of 948 patients. In all three studies, the severity of nasal congestion over the previous 12 h was graded twice daily using the following grading scale: 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe. The average reflective (as assessed over the previous 12 h) a.m. and p.m. nasal congestion severity scores at baseline were between 2.4 and 2.1 for the three studies. The reductions from baseline in these scores over a 2-week period were significantly greater with desloratadine than with placebo for all three studies (P values were < 0.05 for all studies). In both of the longer studies, the reduction in nasal congestion continued throughout the 4-week evaluation. The reduction from baseline over the 4-week treatment period was significantly greater in the desloratadine groups than in the placebo groups (P < 0.05 for both studies). Desloratadine was well tolerated in all three studies, with a side effect profile similar to placebo. These findings demonstrate that desloratadine relieves nasal congestion in patients with SAR over a period of at least 4 weeks without significant side effects.