Efficacy of nimesulide alone and in combination with cetirizine in acute allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cetirizine and nimesulide given alone and in combination in allergic rhinitis. METHOD: A double blind, double dummy, randomised, parallel controlled clinical study in three groups consisting of 18 patients each suffering from allergic rhinitis was conducted. Group A was given nimesulide alone (100 mg BD), Group B received combination (nimesulide 100 mg + cetirizine 10 mg) and Group C was given cetirizine alone (10 mg) for one week. The efficacy of each treatment in reducing nasal stuffiness, nasal discharge, itching nose and watery eyes was assessed at base line (day 0), on days four and eight of treatment. Patients used diary cards twice daily to rate symptom severity on a four point scale. RESULTS: Nimesulide and cetirizine alone could decrease nasal discharge, nasal stuffiness and sneezing significantly in allergic rhinitis patients by day four. Cetirizine was more effective in relieving nasal discharge and sneezing compared to nimesulide. By combining cetirizine and nimesulide four symptoms of allergic rhinitis, i.e., nasal discharge, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and watery eyes decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Present study has shown that nimesulide alone could decrease three symptoms of allergic rhinitis like certirizine and combination of cetirizine (anti-histaminic) and nimesulide (anti-inflammatory) exerts synergistic action in reducing symptoms in patients of allergic rhinitis.