Levocetirizine offers no benefits according to French reviewers
Levocetirizine (Xyzal), the active enantiomer of cetirizine, is a commercial novelty that offers no benefits for patients, according to a review in the French drug bulletin Prescrire International (2003;12:171).
The bulletin examines the clinical trial evidence available for levocetirizine,
which is made by UCB Pharma. It concludes that the drug has exactly the
same effects as cetirizine, but at half the daily dose. “UCB Pharma
chose the active enantiomer trick to replace cetirizine,” the bulletin
states.
However, UCB Pharma has hit back at the French review. A spokesman for
the company pointed out that a significant amount of published data was
not examined by Prescrire. “This new data effectively renders the
Prescrire review both inaccuate and in some instances incorrect.” He
pointed out that pharmacodynamic studies have shown levocetirizine to
be superior to loratadine, fexofenadine, mizolastine and desloratadine
in terms of inhibition of histamine-induced weal and flare surface area.
The Prescrire review adds that the classification of cetirizine and levocetirizine
as non-sedative non-anticholinergic antihistamines is questionable. Trial
data show that of 538 patients who received levocetirizine, 5.6 per cent
experienced drowsiness and 2.6 per cent reported dry mouth (versus 1.3
per cent for each for those given placebo). |
