Abstract
Roxithromycin (RXM), a newly synthesized macrolide antibiotic, is reported to have anti-inflam-matory and anti-allergic actions as well.
We administered RXM, Rulid® tablets (150 mg twice a day), for 2 weeks to 114 patients with pharyngitis, who complained of an abnormal sensation in the throat, such as a lump, choking or itching.
The therapeutic effect of the medication was evaluated at the end of the first and second weeks of administration and one week after the termination of treatment. RXM was considered to be markedly effective when the abnormal sensation improved by 80% or more, moderately effective if improvement was 50-80%, slightly effective if it was 20-50%, and not effective if it was less than 20%. Of the 114 patients, 7 dropped out and 2 had such gastro-intestinal discomfort that the medication had to be suspended.
In the remaining 105 patients (40 males and 65 females, 25-87 years of age, mean 58.0 years) the medication was markedly effective in 29.5% and effective in 41.0% at the end of the first week; the corresponding figures were 39.0% and 41.0% at the end of the second week, and 49.5% and 30.5% one week after the termination of the medication. These results show the fairly rapid and considerably long-lasting effect of RXM.
The results indicate that RXM is effective in the therapy of patients with pharyngitis accompanied by abnormal sensation in the throat.
