To assess use of desloratadine and its impact on relief of allergy symptoms in a real world setting.

A Patient Experience Program conducted between April 2003 and August 2003 included voluntary participants who provided self-reported information via surveys on several aspects of allergy symptoms and relief before and after use of desloratadine. Symptom bother was assessed on a scale of 0 (not at all bothered) to 10 (very bothered). Likert scales were used to assess self-reported impressions of effectiveness, quickness of relief, and satisfaction with desloratadine.

A total of 985 participants (74% women; mean age 46 years; 53% year-round sufferers) completed the Program. Nearly 80% of patients reported use of an oral allergy medication prior to desloratadine. The study medication was associated with substantial, statistically significant (p<0.001) reductions in the extent to which allergy symptoms interfered with daily life activities. All average ratings were reduced by at least 64% among prior allergy medication users; at least 61% among those who had not used a prior medication. Allergy symptom relief was also evident, with reductions in symptom bother of at least 58% among prior users and 56% among non-prior users. The majority of patients, regardless of prior medication use, reported that desloratadine was good or excellent for relieving allergy symptoms quickly (81%) and effectively (82%); 86% were satisfied/very satisfied with desloratadine.

In a real world setting, desloratadine provides fast and effective relief of allergy symptoms for first-time and prior users of allergy medications.