• W A Shaikh.
• Allergy Clinic, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
• J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 1995 Nov 1; 96 (5 Pt 1): 597-600.

BackgroundEphedrine nasal wash (0.25% to 1%) was once used in the treatment of sinusitis and other nasal and paranasal symptoms, but there are no reported controlled trials in allergic rhinitis.MethodsIn a blinded study, 118 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into two groups of 65 and 53 patients, respectively, and administered either a placebo or a 1% ephedrine-saline nasal wash once every 48 hours for a period of 4 weeks. These groups were then crossed over after a 4-week interval, and their weekly symptom scores and peak nasal inspiratory flow rates were monitored.ResultsUse of ephedrine-saline nasal wash resulted in significant improvement in symptom scores and peak nasal inspiratory flow rates as compared with placebo (p < or = 0.001). A statistically significant difference between the two groups began in the second week. The effects of treatment lasted for more than 2 weeks after the study, without notable side effects, in most patients.ConclusionA 1% ephedrine-saline nasal wash is an inexpensive and effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.

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