Clinical evaluation of roxithromyin in acne vulgaris: comparison of daily versus alternate day regimen
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66344/jpad.15.1.2005.615Keywords:
Roxithromycin, acne vulgarisAbstract
Roxithromycin, one of the newer macrolides, has been shown to be effective in acne in some
clinical trials. These trials have been done with once or twice daily dosage schedules. As
another closely related macrolide, azithromycin, has been shown to be effective when used
on alternate days, we conducted this trial to see whether an alternate day regimen of
roxithromycin gives comparable results with those of daily regimen or not. One hundred and
forty patients were included in the study and were randomly divided in two groups. Patients
in Group-I used 300 mg of roxithromycin orally once daily for eight weeks. Those in Group-
II used 300 mg of roxithromycin orally on alternate days for eight weeks. Results could be
evaluated in 125 patients, with 15 patients lost to follow up. Out of 60 patients in Group-I,
32% showed good(>50%) improvement, 57% moderate (25-50%) and 10% slight (<25%)
improvement. Of the 65 evaluable patients in Group-II, 28% showed good, 55% moderate
and 14% slight improvement. Using chi-square tests the difference between the results of the
two groups was found to be insignificant (p>0.5). Side effects noted were transient and were
nausea, slight gastric upset and diarrhea in 10% patients in Group-I and 4.6% patients in
Group-II. In conclusion, alternate day dosage regimen is found to be almost equally effective
but safer and more economical than daily dosage regimen.
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