Comparison of Efficacy of Azithromycin and Levamisole in Combination with Azithromycin in Patients of Moderate to Severe Acne

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of azithromycin plus levamisole versus azithromycin in the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Design: It was a randomized controlled trial. Study Settings: This study was conducted at Department of Pharmacology over 1 year from March 2020 to March 2021 at Khalifa Gulnawaz Teaching Hospital, Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & DHQ Teaching Hospital, Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Material and Methods: Sixty (120) patients of acne having either gender age between ≤18 to ≥28 years who meet the inclusion criteria were include in this study. Randomly patients were divided into two groups, in group A patients (n=60) were administered azithromycin (500 mg daily for 3 days in a week) plus levamisole (150 mg daily for two days in a week) for 8 weeks. In group B patients (n=60) patients were administered azithromycin 500 mg daily for 3 days for 8 weeks. “Acne Global Severity Score” was used for grading in patients who respond to treatment after 08 weeks therapy. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in this study In Group-A Azithromycin + Levamisole, 19 males (31.66%) and 41 females (68.33%) and in Group-B (only Azithromycin) 23 males (38.33%) and 37 females (61.66%) were enrolled. Efficacy was noted in 52(86.66%) in patients of group-A receiving azithromycin plus levamisole combination where it was noted in 29(48.33%) in patients of group B receiving azithromycin (p=0.0031). Conclusion: It is concluded that for treatment of moderate acne vulgaris to severe acne vulgaris combination of azithromycin plus levamisole therapy proved more effective than azithromycin. However, there is need to conduct further comparative studies to measure efficacy in moderate acne vulgaris to severe acne vulgaris. Keywords: Azithromycin, Levanisole, Acne Vulgaris, Efficacy, Moderate Acne, Efficacy