Display options
Cite
Rauš K, Pleschka S, Klein P, et al. Effect of an Echinacea-Based Hot Drink Versus Oseltamivir in Influenza Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter, Noninferiority Clinical Trial. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015;77:66-72doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001.
Rauš, K., Pleschka, S., Klein, P., Schoop, R., & Fisher, P. (2015). Effect of an Echinacea-Based Hot Drink Versus Oseltamivir in Influenza Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter, Noninferiority Clinical Trial. Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental, 7766-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001
Rauš, Karel, et al. "Effect of an Echinacea-Based Hot Drink Versus Oseltamivir in Influenza Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter, Noninferiority Clinical Trial." Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental vol. 77 (2015): 66-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001
Rauš K, Pleschka S, Klein P, Schoop R, Fisher P. Effect of an Echinacea-Based Hot Drink Versus Oseltamivir in Influenza Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter, Noninferiority Clinical Trial. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015 Apr 20;77:66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001. eCollection 2015 Dec. PMID: 26265958; PMCID: PMC4528044.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015 Apr 20;77:66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Effect of an Echinacea-Based Hot Drink Versus Oseltamivir in Influenza Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter, Noninferiority Clinical Trial.

Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental

Karel Rauš, Stephan Pleschka, Peter Klein, Roland Schoop, Peter Fisher

Affiliations

  1. Canadian Medical Care, Prague, Czech Republic.
  2. Institute of Medical Virology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
  3. D.S.H. Statistical Services GmbH, Rohrbach, Germany.
  4. A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Roggwil, Switzerland.
  5. Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

PMID: 26265958 PMCID: PMC4528044 DOI: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2015.04.001

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Echinacea has antiviral activity against influenza viruses in vitro and has traditionally been used for treatment of colds and flu.

OBJECTIVES: This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, controlled clinical trial compared a new echinacea formulation with the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, the gold standard treatment for influenza.

METHODS: Following informed consent, 473 patients with early influenza symptoms (≤48 hours) were recruited in primary care in the Czech Republic and randomized to either 5 days of oseltamivir followed by 5 days of placebo, or 10 days of an Echinacea purpurea-based formulation called Echinaforce Hotdrink (A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Roggwil, Switzerland). The proportion of recovered patients (influenza symptoms rated as absent or mild in the evening) was analyzed for noninferiority between treatment groups using a generalized Wilcoxon test with significance level α = 0.05 (2-sided) and using a CI approach in the per-protocol sample.

RESULTS: Recovery from illness was comparable in the 2 treatment groups at 1.5% versus 4.1% after 1 day, 50.2% versus 48.8% after 5 days, and 90.1% versus 84.8% after 10 days of treatment with Echinaforce Hotdrink and oseltamivir, respectively. Noninferiority was demonstrated for each day and overall (95% CI, 0.487-0.5265 by generalized Wilcoxon test). Very similar results were obtained in the group with virologically confirmed influenza virus infections and in a retrospective analysis during the peak influenza period. The incidence of complications was lower with Echinaforce Hotdrink than with oseltamivir (2.46% vs 6.45%; P = 0.076) and fewer adverse events (particularly nausea and vomiting) were observed with Echinaforce Hotdrink.

CONCLUSIONS: Echinaforce Hotdrink is as effective as oseltamivir in the early treatment of clinically diagnosed and virologically confirmed influenza virus infections with a reduced risk of complications and adverse events. It appears to be an attractive treatment option, particularly suitable for self-care. Clinical trial identifier: Eudra-CT: 2010-021571-88. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015; 77:66-72).

Keywords: Complications; echinacea; influenza; noninferiority; oseltamivir; recovery

References

  1. J Clin Virol. 2003 Dec;28(3):225-32 - PubMed
  2. Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Sep 1;160(5):492-502 - PubMed
  3. Scientifica (Cairo). 2014;2014:430629 - PubMed
  4. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 18;4(8):e6681 - PubMed
  5. BMJ. 1996 Nov 2;313(7065):1119-23 - PubMed
  6. Phytother Res. 2009 Jun;23(6):863-7 - PubMed
  7. Phytomedicine. 2011 Jul 15;18(10):826-31 - PubMed
  8. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:841315 - PubMed
  9. JAMA. 2000 Feb 23;283(8):1016-24 - PubMed
  10. Semin Respir Infect. 1992 Mar;7(1):26-37 - PubMed
  11. Arch Intern Med. 2000 Nov 27;160(21):3243-7 - PubMed
  12. Arch Intern Med. 2003 Jul 28;163(14):1667-72 - PubMed
  13. Virol J. 2009 Nov 13;6:197 - PubMed
  14. Am J Med. 1987 Jun 19;82(6A):15-9 - PubMed
  15. J Infect. 1992 Nov;25(3):311-5 - PubMed
  16. Antiviral Res. 2009 Aug;83(2):165-70 - PubMed
  17. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 1988;4(4):637-42 - PubMed
  18. Stat Med. 1998 Apr 30;17(8):873-90 - PubMed
  19. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003 Jan;51(1):123-9 - PubMed
  20. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 May;56(9):1197-205 - PubMed
  21. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Apr 10;(4):CD008965 - PubMed
  22. Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Jul 15;43(2):132-40 - PubMed
  23. Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Nov;31(5):1166-9 - PubMed
  24. JAMA. 2005 Feb 23;293(8):987-97 - PubMed

Publication Types