Cetirizine and nigella sativa: comparison of conventional and herbal option for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis

ABSTRACT

To compare the efficacy of the second-generation antihistamine cetirizine with Nigella sativa [N. sativa] seeds in management of seasonal allergic rhinitis [SAR]. Comparative uncontrolled clinical trial. Forty untreated adult patients, suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis, seeking outpatient treatment were selected from different primary care clinics. They were enrolled and randomized in a single-blind manner to receive Cetirizine, 10 mg/day, group I [n=20] and 250 mg/day of N.sativa, group II [n=20] orally for 14 days. Response to treatment was evaluated at the end of the study. All patients completed the treatment. Both study drugs i.e cetirizine and N.sativa were equally effective at relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis; however, the group using cetirizine had more sedation and other adverse effects. It appears that N.sativa is has minimal adverse effects and is therefore a safe treatment option for the patients of seasonal allergic rhinitis