Forty-five patients with residual or recurrent nasal polyposis after ethmoidectomy were treated with either cetirizine at twice the daily recommended (20 mg) dose or placebo for three months. The number and size of polyps remained unchanged during the study period. Cetirizine was found to reduce nasal sneezing and rhinorrhoea effectively. The drug also had a beneficial effect on nasal obstruction in the latter part of the study. The side effects of 20 mg (double the recommended daily adult dose) of cetirizine were few and comparable to placebo.

The introduction of a topically active H1-antihistamine nasal spray Azelastine, has given an extra dimension in the management of allergic rhinits. The drug acts rapidly and avoids the sustemic adverse effects of antihistimines. An objective prospective study was performed to detect the effect of Azelastine nasal spray on nasal airway resistance. Twelve healthy adult volunteers with no rhinological problems were included in the study. Nasal cavites were sprayed with 280 μg (two puffs) of Azelastine nasal spray and the nasal airway resistance was measured with anterior rhinomanometry at intervals of 30 minutes for up to two hours. Our study has shown statistically significant increase in the total nasal airway resistance following the use orf Azelastine nasal spray in the absence of a subjective change in nasal airway resistance. There are substances when inhaled which can cause subjective improvement in nasal airway patency without changing the measured nasal airway resistance. However this medication gives no subjective change in nasal airway patency in spite of increasing nasal airway resistance.