ASSESSMENT OF DRUG UTILIZATION, ADHERENCE, AND CLINICAL RESPONSE IN PATIENTS RECEIVING PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic inflammatory disorder frequently requiring prolonged pharmacotherapy.Treatment effectiveness in routine practice depends not only on appropriate drug selection but also on medication adherence.This study assessed drug-utilization patterns, adherence, and clinical response among patients receiving pharmacotherapy forallergic rhinitis. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted collaboratively by theDepartments of ENT and Pharmacology among 75 patients with allergic rhinitis. Demographic and clinical characteristics,prescribed medications, adherence status, reasons for non-adherence, and symptom severity were recorded. Clinical responsewas assessed using changes in Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS). Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical testswere applied, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Second-generation oral antihistamines were prescribed in 82.7%of patients and intranasal corticosteroids in 64.0%. Low adherence was observed in 44.0%, while only 24.0% showed highadherence. Mean TNSS decreased significantly from 8.04±1.77 to 4.57±1.99 (p<0.001). Clinical response was significantlyassociated with adherence status (χ²=15.38, p=0.004). Adherence showed a moderate positive correlation with percentagereduction in TNSS (ρ=0.468, p<0.001). Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis pharmacotherapy produced significant symptomaticimprovement; however, poor adherence remained common. Better adherence was sign