Register for Doctors Feel Allergy Sufferers Don't Get Complete Symptom Relief
Allergy MedicineDecember 10, 2001
2001 DEC 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forty million Americans suffer from allergies, and many have tried different medications hoping to find better symptom relief. A number of doctors say current allergy treatments, both over-the-counter and prescribed, leave room for improvement when it comes to providing the complete symptom relief patients want.
According to a national survey of allergists and primary care physicians (PCPs) released November 16, 2001, more than 65% of physicians said they are only somewhat satisfied with currently available medications for treating allergies. Consequently, more than 50% of allergists and 39% of PCPs said they prescribe more than one medication to their patients.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) sponsored the survey conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc., to foster discussion among the medical community about currently available allergy medications and the need for improvements and enhancements.
"There are a variety of allergy medications that claim to provide different types of allergy symptom relief," said John Santilli, MD, cochair of ACAAI's rhinitis and sinusitis committee. "Although the prescribed treatments at least provide some relief, there is considerable room for improvement."
In the survey, physicians said the most important attributes when evaluating an allergy medication are its abilities to be fast-acting, provide 24-hour symptom relief and to be nonsedating (69% of allergists, 66% of PCPs, and more than 90% of both allergists and PCPs rated each attribute, respectively, at least very important if not absolutely essential).
However, when asked whether current medications were living up to these attributes, allergists responded that prescription oral antihistamines required some amount of improvement in their abilities to be fast-acting, providing 24-hour symptom relief and being nonsedating (95%, 95%, and 83%, respectively).
"Often my patients don't receive adequate symptom relief fast enough, which prevents them from living their daily lives fully," said Warren V. Filley, MD, ACAAI fellow and clinical professor of medicine and clinical instructor of pediatrics at the Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City. "As a result, they end up switching medications or using additional treatments to augment the total symptom relief current drugs are unable to provide individually."
Both allergists and PCPs agreed that the main reason patients switch medications is because they want improved relief of the symptoms associated with allergies, including sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itching of eyes, nose, and throat and watery eyes. Consequently, more than 50% of allergists and 39% of PCPs prescribe more than one medication to their patients.
In addition, to compensate for inadequacies of prescribed antihistamines, 75% of allergists and 50% of PCPs also recommend other treatments to their patients, such as nasal sprays, eye drops, and steroid inhalers to enhance treatment.
"Allergic disorders affect more than 40 million Americans and is the sixth leading source of chronic illness in the United States," said Santilli. "It's important that people recognize what triggers their allergies and ask their doctors for the best form of treatment available - knowing that improved or enhanced treatments are on the horizon."
The survey, made possible by an educational grant from Sepracor, was released at the ACAAI annual conference in Orlando, Florida. The physicians' responses coincide with a variety of topics planned for discussion concerning allergies, asthma and immunology, including potential new allergy treatments under development. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
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