A clinical trial of Epinastine Hydrochloride for the treatment of cedar pollenosis

Abstract

Epinastine Hydrochloride was administered to one group of patients suffering from cedar pollenosis before the start of the cedar pollen season and to another group after the onset of the cedar pollen season and then the clinical effectiveness of the treatment between the two groups was evaluated. As a result, the following was observed:
1. Sneezing, nasal secretion, nasal obstruction, the severity of symptoms and eye itching were all milder in the group treated before the onset of the pollen season than in the group treated after the season had already begun.
2. However, the overall symptoms were more severe at the start of the pollen season in the group treated before the season began.
3. Lacrimination was milder throughout the observation period in the group treated before the start of the season than in the group treated after the season had already begun.
4. Regarding side effects, a transient increase in the total bilirubin was noted in 1 of 50 patients (2%) however, this resolved as the treatment was continued.
5. The treatment was thus found to be useful in 12 of the 18 patients (66.7%) treated before the beginning of the season and in 6 of the 8 patients treated during the season.
These results therefore suggest that Epinastine Hydrochioride helps to alleviate the symptoms of cedar pollenosis when it is administered before the start of the pollen season.