Comparison of the efficacy of inhaled budesonide and oral choline in patients with allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: A single blind parallel group study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oral choline [given as tricholine citrate (TRI)] in patients with allergic rhinitis, and compare its efficacy with intranasal budesonide (BUD).

METHODS: The study was conducted at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi, India from February 2001 to April 2002. Sixty patients were randomized into 2 groups after a run-in period of 2 weeks. Group A received intranasal BUD 200 mg twice daily and group B received TRI 500 mg thrice daily. The patients were reviewed every 2 weeks up to 8 weeks. The mean individual symptom score, total symptom score and drug score were significantly reduced in both groups (p<0.05) compared to baseline values, with maximum effect occurring within 4 weeks of therapy.

RESULTS: Budesonide showed statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in all the outcome parameters, when compared to TRI. Crossover study between the 2 treatment groups also showed similar results. Seventy-six percent of patients with BUD and 43% of patients with TRI found the drug to be effective.

CONCLUSION: Both intranasal BUD and oral TRI are effective in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Budesonide was found to be the statistically superior drug.