Abstract
Introduction –It is the most frequently encountered self-limiting viral respiratory diseases. Common cold has a greater adverse impact on, absenteeism, productivity and daily life so symptomatic therapy to treat the symptoms is often employed. A FDC of Paracetamol, an antipyretic, Phenylephrine, a nasal decongestant and Levocetirizine, an anti-histaminic is popular in the treatment of Common Cold and Allergic Rhinitis in adults. This Phase IV study appraised the efficacy and safety of a combination of Paracetamol, Phenylephrine and Levocetirizine in treatment of common cold.
Methodology–Of 185 enrolled, 156 patients completed the study. Safety assessment was made by inspecting the adverse events during trial. Efficacy assessment was made by decrementing in TSS and four point Likert-type scales.
Results– Reduction in TSS from 5.05 (baseline) to 2.58 (day 3) and 0.61(day 5). One point reduction in Likert-type symptom scale from Moderate to Mild took just 3 days. Nearly all the patients had >50% reduction in symptom score at all visit and majority of patients had complete relief from the symptom. 20 episodes of adverse events occurred and were of mild intensity.
Conclusion – A fixed-dose combination of Paracetamol, Phenylephrine and Levocetirizine is safe and effective in the treatment of Common Cold and Allergic Rhinitis in children.
Keywords – Paracetamol, Levocetirizine, Phenylephrine, Common Cold, Allergic Rhinitis
References
1. Worrall G, Del Mar C. There's a Lot of It About: Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care. Radcliffe Publishing; 2006.
2. Dicpinigaitis PV, Eccles R, Blaiss MS, Wingertzahn MA. Impact of cough and common cold on productivity, absente-eism, and daily life in the United States: ACHOO Survey. Current medical research and opinion. 2015 Aug 3;31(8):1519-25.
3. Eccles R. Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. The Lancet infectious diseases. 2005 Nov 30;5(11):718-25.
4. Varshney J, Varshney H. Allergic rhinitis: An overview. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. 2015 Jun 1;67(2):143-9.
5. Allergic rhinitis and co-morbid asthma: perspective from India -- ARIA Asia-Pacific Workshop report.
6. Picon PD, Costa MB, da VeigaPicon R, Fendt LC, Suksteris ML, Saccilotto IC, Dornelles AD, Schmidt LF. Symptomatic treatment of the common cold with a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. BMC infectious diseases. 2013 Nov 22;13(1): 556.
7. Jóźwiak- Bebenista M, Nowak JZ. Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety concern. Actapoloniaepharmaceutica. 2013 Dec; 71(1):11-23.
8. Walsh, Garry M. "The anti-inflammatory effects of levocetirizine-are they clinically relevant or just an interesting additional effect?." Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 5.1 (2009): 14.
9. Meltzer, Eli O., et al. "Treatment of congestion in upper respiratory diseases. "International journal of general medicine 3 (2010): 69.
10. De Sutter, A. I., et al. "Oral antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations for the common cold." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2.2 (2004).
11. Eccles, Ron, Ingo Fietze, and Uwe-Bernd Rose. "Rationale for treatment of common cold and flu with multi-ingredient combination products for multi-symptom relief in adults." Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases 4.03 (2014): 73.
12. Kiran M, Pawaskar L, Yadav P.”Efficacy and Safety of a combination of Paracet-amol, Levocetirizine and Phenylepherine in the symptomatic treatment of Common Cold and Allergic Rhinitis: Phase IV Clinical Study. “International Journal of Current Research in Medical Sciences3.01 (2017):53-59.
13. Kiran M, Pawaskar L, Yadav P.Efficacy and Safety of a combination of Paracetamol, Chlorpheniramine maleate and Phenylepherine in the symptomatic treatment of Common Cold: Phase IV Clinical study. The Indian Practitioner 70.02(2017):10-15.
Corresponding Author
Dr. Mayuresh Kiran
General Manager, Medical Services
Centaur Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India.
Mobile No. +91 9820068567
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.