Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Montelukast versus Doxycycline in the Treatment of Moderate Acne Vulgaris: A Rnadomized Controlled Trial

Background: While clean you do not understand Acne vulgaris as a frequent chronic inflammatory problem of the pilosebaceous unit. Safety issues with the use of antibiotics and resistance issues have led to an interest in other therapies. Leukotriene receptor antagonist Montelukast which is an anti-inflammatory may be a possible non-antibiotic treatment. The aim is to assess the effectivity and safety of montelukast with doxycycline for moderate acne vulgaris. Setting and Design: Conducted randomized controlled trial in settings of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy Department, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Moradabad. Material and Methods: The methods and materials consist of 130 patients of moderate Acne Vulgaris, aged between 15 to 40 years were divided into two groups of 65 patients each. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A had oral montelukast 10 mg once a day and topical clindamycin 1%, Group B received oral doxycycline 100 mg once a day and topical clindamycin 1% for 12 weeks. GAGS was used to evaluate acne severity at baseline, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Data were analysed by appropriate statistical tests and p<0.05 was used as the limit of significance. Results: Dozycyline treatment resulted in a significantly larger decrease in GAGS score than montelukast at week 12 (60.0 vs. 27.1, p<0.001). Both treatments were tolerated well. Conclusion: Both drugs were effective but doxycycline was more effective. When antibiotic treatment is not appropriate, Montelukast can be considered a safe alternative.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris, Montelukast, Doxycycline, Global Acne Grading System, Randomized controlled trial.