Intranasal verapamil in allergen-induced rhinitis.

Twenty-six pollen-allergic subjects participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the protective effect of the calcium antagonist, verapamil, on allergen-provoked nasal symptoms. Intranasal verapamil, 1 mg. had a weak protective effect in that "tickling score" was 22% lower (P less than 0.01) and the number of sneezes 29% lower (nonsignificant) after verapamil as compared with placebo pretreatment. There were no differences with regard to nasal blockage or discharge. It is concluded that the verapamil spray used, cannot be recommended for clinical trials, but that further investigations of other formulations of calcium antagonist are justified in order to analyse the potential role of this type of drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.