A Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Powder and Aerosolized Budesonide in the Treatment of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study are to compare the efficacy and side effects of intranasal budesonide as a dry powder and as a freonpropelled pressurized aerosol in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis and to assess the difference in compliance with the powder and aerosol. The study design was a randomized, double-blind crossover between two treatment groups over a six-week period. Twelve patients with symptomatic perennial allergic rhinitis received 400 microgram of intranasal budesonide administered daily as two puffs/nostril/day of the drug delivered by a freon-propelled aerosol for the first three weeks and as one inhalation/nostril/day of the pure drug powder for the next three weeks. Fourteen adults with allergic rhinitis received the drug in the reverse sequence. Patients recorded daily symptoms on diaries, and, at each clinic visit, adverse effects were recorded. Compliance with the powder and with the aerosol was also evaluated. During the six weeks, there were significant improvements in symptoms in both treatment groups, and the differences in efficacy and compliance with the medication between the two groups were not significant. Adverse effects included headaches, epistaxis, and nasal dryness ; however, they were not serious and equally distributed in the two groups. We conclude that powder and aerosolized budesonide improve the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis significantly with little difference in efficacy, side effects, and preference.