Safety of fixed-dose loratadine/montelukast in subjects with allergic rhinitis

The safety of loratadine (second-generation antihistamine) and montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist) as monotherapies is well documented. Safety of the fixed-dose, single-tablet therapy loratadine/montelukast (L/M; SCH 445761, containing loratadine [10 mg]/montelukast [10 mg]), for treatment of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in >3800 subjects is described. Safety data from 19 randomized clinical studies in which subjects were administered L/M are presented. Adverse events (AEs) were defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or laboratory data, including onset of new illness and exacerbation of preexisting conditions. Only AEs with an onset during the treatment period (i.e., treatment emergent) are summarized. Safety was also assessed via clinical laboratory evaluations and monitoring of vital signs and electrocardiogram (ECG). Overall, the incidence of AEs reported with L/M in the 19 studies was low and comparable with placebo, loratadine monotherapy, and montelukast monotherapy. The most frequently reported AE across all studies was headache. Most AEs were not severe and the duration of such events was short lived. Three AEs (headache [4.5%], fatigue [1.2%], and pharyngolaryngeal pain [1.2%]), regardless of relation to treatment, were reported by >1% of subjects in the L/M treatment group of multiple-dose, placebo-controlled studies. There were no clinically significant changes in clinical laboratory analyses or in vital signs, physical findings, or ECG found to be clinically relevant. Administration of the fixed-dose, single-tablet formulation of L/M was well tolerated. In these clinical studies, the safety of L/M was comparable with placebo, loratadine, and montelukast.