DOI: 10.11648/j.ijo.20261202.12 ISSN: 2472-2413

Clinicians' Perspectives and Preferences in the Management of Allergic Rhinitis in India

Manjula Suresh, Krishna Manjunath
Show PDF Cite
Objective: To assess expert clinicians' views on the role of montelukast–levocetirizine combination therapy in the management of allergic rhinitis, focusing on its effectiveness, safety, and routine clinical application in Indian healthcare settings. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey employed a structured questionnaire comprising 23 multiple-response items to capture clinicians' perspectives on prescribing practices, therapeutic preferences, clinical experiences, and observations regarding the use of the montelukast–levocetirizine combination for managing allergic rhinitis in routine practice. The collected responses were summarized using descriptive statistical methods. Results: A total of 458 clinicians completed the survey. Among the respondents, 71.83% favored combining an antihistamine with a leukotriene receptor antagonist for the long-term treatment of allergic rhinitis. Levocetirizine was identified as the antihistamine of choice by 93% of participants. Nearly half of the clinicians (47%) preferred the montelukast–levocetirizine combination over antihistamine monotherapy for managing acute allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, 93.67% reported that the combination was effective in relieving morning symptoms, while approximately 78% observed improvements in daytime nasal, nighttime nasal, and daytime ocular symptoms. In patients with coexisting bronchial asthma, 76% of respondents favored the antihistamine-leukotriene receptor antagonist combination. Overall, nearly 67% of clinicians perceived the montelukast-levocetirizine combination as offering greater efficacy, improved tolerability, and sustained long-term therapeutic benefit. Conclusion: The survey findings underscore that antihistamine and leukotriene receptor antagonist combination is the preferred therapeutic approach for AR among clinicians, with levocetirizine being the antihistamine of choice. Most physicians perceive the montelukast and levocetirizine combination to provide effective control of morning, daytime, and nighttime symptoms, along with improved efficacy, tolerability, and sustained clinical benefits.

More from our Archive