India: A study published in the Journal of Asthma by Shubhadeep D Sinha and the team has provided information on the excellent tolerability of a combo of Bilastine 20mg and Montelukast 10mg in patients with Allergic rhinitis.
Explaining research background, they said that in AR, Histamine and cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are potent inflammatory mediators. Additional benefits can be obtained using combination therapy against these potent inflammatory mediators.
Previous researchers have mentioned that using Levocetirizine and highly selective leukotriene receptor antagonists like Montelukast are widely prescribed in combination due to the additional benefits of this combination in AR patients.
The Indian study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Bilastine 20mg and Montelukast 10mg fixed drug combination at 16 ENT centres.
Important study points are:
The study included Adult patients with AR for at least one year with positive IgE antibody test and 12-hour NSS score > 36 during the last three days.
The patients were randomized to receive either a fixed-dose combination or FDC of Bilastine 20 mg & Montelukast 10 mg or FDC Montelukast 10 mg & Levocetirizine 5 mg tablets for four weeks.
The primary endpoints measured was change in mean total symptom score (nasal symptom scores (NSS) & non-nasal symptom scores (NNSS)) (baseline to week 4).
The change in mean TSS was 16.6 units in Bilastine 20mg and Montelukast 10mg FDC compared to 17 units in Levocetirizine 5mg and Montelukast 10mg FDC.
There was a comparable difference in mean change between groups.
The study addressed the combination of Bilastine 20mg and Montelukast 10mg in allergic rhinitis patients.
They also said that the combination was well tolerated in such patients
Further reading:
Sinha SD, Perapogu S, Chary SS, Ramesh H, Bakshi J, Singh A, Ahmed AK, Mohan Reddy B, Panapakam M, Talluri L, Vattipalli R. Efficacy and Safety of Fixed-Dose Combination of Bilastine in Adult Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Phase III, Randomized, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Active Controlled Clinical Study. J Asthma. 2023 May 4:1-9. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2209175.