Montelukast plus cetirizine in the prophylactic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: influence on clinical symptoms and nasal allergic inflammation

Abstract

Combined antihistamine and antileukotriene treatment started 6 weeks before the pollen season is effective in preventing AR symptoms and reduces allergic inflammation in nasal mucosa during natural allergen exposure.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008*

“…The combined montelukast and cetirizine treatment, when started 6 weeks before the pollen season, was effective in preventing allergic rhinitis symptoms and reduced allergic inflammation in the nasal mucosa during natural allergen exposure (1586). Montelukast is equally effective in patients exposed to low and high pollen counts (1523).…”

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXXIV: Leukotriene Receptor Nomenclature, Distribution, and Pathophysiological Functions

“…Other studies indicate that LTRAs can alleviate the signs and symptoms of AR when used either as monotherapy (van Adelsberg et al, 2003;Lee et al, 2004b;Ho and Tan, 2007;Wahn and Dass, 2008;Diamant et al, 2009;Cingi and Ozlugedik, 2010) or in combination with an antihistamine in adults (Meltzer et al, 2000;Nayak et al, 2002;Ciprandi et al, 2004;Kurowski et al, 2004;Ciebiada et al, 2006;Lagos and Marshall, 2007;Li et al, 2009), as well as in children (Phan et al, 2009). Results from meta-analyses indicate that antihistamines and LTRAs are equally effective in improving symptoms of AR and QL, but that both drugs are less effective than intranasal corticosteroids (Pullerits et al, 2002;Saengpanich et al, 2003;Di Lorenzo et al, 2004b;Wilson et al, 2004;Rodrigo and Yañ ez, 2006;Van Hoecke et al, 2007).…”

Montelukast: Pharmacology, Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy

“…43 Montelukast in combination with cetirizine showed better control of the clinical nasal symptoms and reduced eosinophil counts better than either montelukast or cetirizine alone in seasonal AR patients. 57 When given 6 weeks before the start of the pollen season this combination delayed the onset of allergic seasonal symptoms in comparison to monotherapy. 57 Once daily treatment of fexofenadine (120 mg) was found to be equivalent to montelukast (10 mg) plus loratadine (10 mg) on peak nasal inspiratory flow rates and symptoms in seasonal AR.…”