Evaluation Of Efficacy And Safety Of High Dose Second Generation Non – Sedating Antihistamines Levocetirizine And Fexofenadine In Chronic Urticaria – A Prospective, Parallel, Randomized, Single Blind, Comparative Study.

ABSTRACT

There are few studies with up dosing of different 2 generation antihistamines. This study evaluates efficacy and safety of high doses of Levocetirizine and Fexofenadine in chronic urticaria. This study includes 24 patients with chronic urticaria. Initially Fexofenadine 180 mg or Levocetirizine 5 mg was started. Doses of study drugs were doubled at the end of 1 week and tripled at the end of 2 weeks in non-responders and th continued up to 4 week. Patients completed 2 week treatment with highest doses were included in the analysis. All patients were evaluated for symptoms, VAS for sedation and critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT) for coordination before and after study. Reduction in mean total symptoms score and CFFT were highly significant in Fexofenadine group. Conclusion: Fexofenadine is superior to Levocetrizine in high doses in reducing mean symptoms score and sedation and no impairment in coordination in patients with chronic urticaria.