Clinical evaluation of NA872 in the treatment of chronic paranasal sinusitis. A double blind trial comparing NA872 with Mecysteine hydrochloride.

In an evaluation of the clinical usefulness of ambroxol hydrochloride (NA872) in the treatment of chronic paranasal sinusitis, a double blind trial was carried out comparing NA872 with Mecysteine hydrochloride (Mecysteine). The NA872 treated patients (N-Group) were given one tablet of NA872 (15 mg) and one placebo tablet orally after each meal, and the Mecysteine treated patients (M-Group) were given one tablet of Mecysteine (100 mg) and one placebo tablet orally after each meal for four weeks. 1) The number of patients with marked or moderate improvement was somewhat higher in the N-Group than in the M-Group, but the difference was not significant. 2) Side effects were observed in the six patients (6.3%) in the N-Group and in three (3.0%) in the M-Group. The side effects were not serious and disappeared soon after the medication was discontinued. 3) The number of patients in whom the effectiveness of treatment was judged to be excellent was higher in the N-Group than in the M-Group, but the difference was not significant. 4) Evaluation of subjective improvement (rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, drainage, postnasal drip and nasal obstruction) and of objective improvement (postnasal drip) showed moderate or greater improvement more often in the N-Group than in the M-Group, but the difference was not significant.It is concluded that NA872 is as effective as Mecysteine in the treatment of chronic paranasal sinusitis.