title: The antipruritic effect of a sedative and a non-sedative antihistamine in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over study was carried out on the effect of a sedative and a non-sedative antihistamine on 25 adults with atopic dermatitis. Intensity of itch was recorded using a computerized method for self-assessment (Pain-Track) and using conventional visual analogue scales. The antipruritic effect of 3 days of treatment with the non-sedative H1 antagonist terfenadine (60 mg b.i.d.) and with the sedative antihistamine, clemastine (2 mg b.i.d.) did not differ from that found with the placebo. Our findings support the view that histamine is not of importance in the pathogenesis of itch in atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Karolinska sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wahlgren
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hägermark
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002974:Clemastine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016593:Terfenadine
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D016593:Terfenadine; D006632:Histamine; D002974:Clemastine