Effects of butterbur treatment in intermittent allergic rhinitis: a placebo-controlled evaluation
Gray RD, et al
Published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Methodology
Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial during the grass pollen season; butterbur 50 mg twice daily for 2 weeks; twice-daily domiciliary peak nasal inspiratory flow, nasal and eye symptom scores and rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life score.
Key Findings
35 patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis took butterbur 50 mg twice daily or placebo for 2 weeks each during the grass pollen season. Butterbur had no significant effect on the primary outcome of peak nasal inspiratory flow (morning 107 vs 105 L/min, evening 114 vs 117 L/min for butterbur vs placebo). Total nasal symptom scores (morning 3.4 vs 3.7, evening 3.5 vs 3.8 out of 12), eye symptom scores and quality of life were also no better than placebo.
Conclusions
No significant clinical efficacy of butterbur versus placebo on objective and subjective outcomes in intermittent allergic rhinitis.
Limitations
Small crossover sample of 35 patients over only 2 weeks per period, in intermittent rather than persistent allergic rhinitis, so a longer or higher-dose effect cannot be excluded.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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