Cephalexin and Oxytetracycline Compared by Double-Blind Trial in the Treatment of Bronchitis in General Practice

Summary

In a double-blind multi-centre trial conducted among general practices, cephalexin and oxytetracycline were compared for the treatment of bronchitis. The dosage, 250 mg. q.d.s.for 10 days, was the same for both drugs; if necessary the dose could be doubled on the third day. Two hundred and thirty-five patients were assessed clinically by their doctors at fixed intervals throughout the trial; all patients also recorded their own progress daily. A significantly higher number of patients were put onto double the dose of oxytetracycline at the third day, indicating a slower response to this drug compared with cephalexin. By the end of the trial the treatments were equally effective with a satisfactory response (recovery or marked improvement) for 93 % of acute bronchitics receiving cephalexin and 96 % receiving oxytetracycline. The corresponding figures for the chronic bronchitics were 92 % and 93 % respectively.

Key words: :

• Cephalexin
• oxytetracycline
• bronchitis