Chronic rhinitis is affecting more than 200 million people worldwide. Its prevalence is estimated to be as high as 30% of the Western population. Rhinitis is defined as symptomatic inflammation of the inner lining of the nose and is characterized by the following symptoms: rhinorrhea, nasal blockage, nasal itching and/or sneezing. The cut-off point for defining rhinitis as chronic rhinitis is considered to be persisting symptoms for over more than twelve weeks Chronic rhinitis can be divided into three major subgroups; based on the knowledge of the major etiological factor: infectious rhinitis, allergic rhinitis and non-allergic, non-infectious rhinitis, in literature also referred to as nonallergic rhinitis. Non-inferiority in efficacy of the two novel treatment regimes i.e. capsaicin nasal spray 0,01mM (2puffs/nostril/day) during 4 weeks and capsaicin nasal spray 0,001mM (2puffs/nostril/day) during 4 weeks compared to the current treatment of capsaicin nasal spray 0,1mM (5/day administered on a single day) with regard to the change from baseline in VAS for major nasal symptom on week 4.

(Estimated placebo effect is 25%.)

Inclusion Criteria:

• idiopathic rhinitis patients with at least 2 persistent (> 12w) rhinological symptoms (nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion) for an average of at least 1 h per day,
• idiopathic rhinitis patients with a total nasal symptoms score (TNS) of 5 or more on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
• Age > 18 and < 65 years.
• Written informed consent.
• Willingness to adhere to visit schedules.
• Adequate contraceptive precautions in female patients with childbearing potential.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with concomitant allergic rhinitis, demonstrated by positive skin prick test (Hal reagents) and/or immunoglobins E in blood. *
• Patients with structural abnormalities: nasal polyps, severe septal deviation (septum reaching concha inferior or lateral nasal wall), septal perforation, hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates.
• Patients with local allergic rhinitis (LAR) or entopy.
• Systemic steroid treatment less than 4 weeks before the inclusion in the study, nasal steroid spray less than 4 weeks before the inclusion, oral leukotriene antagonists or long-acting antihistamines less than 2 weeks before the inclusion.
• Inability of the patient to stop taking medication affecting nasal function like ß-blockers.
• History of prolonged use or abuse of decongestant nasal spray like xylometazoline spray and/or use or abuse of decongestive oral medication.
• Evidence of infectious rhinitis/rhinosinusitis or common cold within 4 weeks prior to inclusion.
• Pregnancy or lactation. **
• Any disorder of which might compromise the ability of a patient to give truly informed consent for participation in this study.
• Enrollment in other investigational drug trial(s) or receiving other investigational agent(s) for any other medical condition.
• Contra-indications for the use of local anesthesia (cocaine 5%).
• Smoking or occupational exposure to irritants (like hypochlorite, persulfates, isocyanates).
• Nasal malignancies or severe comorbidity like granulomatosis or vasculitis.

12 weeks