A Comparison of Sodium Cromoglycate Nasal Solution and Powder in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

The efficacy of sodium cromoglycate powder and solution have been compared with placebo in a group comparative trial involving 39 patients with allergic rhinitis over a period of four weeks. A further crossover trial in 20 patients was carried out to compare the efficacy of powder and solution in those whose main symptoms were nasal obstruction. The data show that both sodium cromoglycate powder and solution are effective treatments and suggest that the powder formulation is somewhat better than solution in those patients with rhinorrhoea possibly because the powder is not rapidly washed out with the nasal secretions. In those patients in whom blocking is the predominant symptom the solution appears to offer advantages due to an effective nasal distribution from the device and possibly the effect of a preservative. The incidence of side effects was of a low order.