Long term treatment with montelukast and levocetirizine combination in persistent allergic rhinitis: review of recent evidence.

Allergic rhinitis is the most prevalent of the atopic disorders, affecting 25% to 35% of persons, depending on the population studied. Considered by non-sufferers to be a trivial disease, allergic rhinitis delivers a significant personal impact on quality of life. Antihistamines have been successfully used for years in the treatment of seasonal/persistent allergic rhinitis. The new generation antihistaminics are all safe, with negligible sedative effects, excellent tolerability and have no influence on cardiac parameters. Montelukast when used as monotherapy is efficacious and improves quality of life. Combination therapy (montelukast plus levocetirizine) is a more effective strategy than monotherapy in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis.