Benzydamine: an alternative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in patients with nimesulide-induced urticaria.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous adverse reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in particular urticaria/angiedema syndrome, represent a frequent problem in clinical practice. To date laboratory tests for the diagnosis of these adverse reactions are not available. A patient with an adverse drug reaction to NSAIDs needs an alternative drug to assume if necessary. Nimesulide is a highly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) world-wide. It is also described as one of the most tolerated NSAID. In this paper we present data on the tolerability of benzydamine in nimesulide-sensitive patients.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-seven patients with nimesulide-induced urticaria were submitted to a single-blind, placebo-controlled peroral challenge with increasing doses of benzydamine.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-four out of 137 (98%) patients tolerated benzydamine without adverse effects, only three (2%) experienced immediate systemic urticaria (1 at the first dose and 2 at the second dose).


CONCLUSIONS
Benzydamine is a well tolerated drug in patients with nimesulide-induced urticaria and it may represent a valid alternative NSAID in nimesulide-sensitive patients.
Nettis
E
E
Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Di Paola
R
R
Napoli
G
G
Ferrannini
A
A
Tursi
A
A
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D001591:Benzydamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047069:Pyrazolones; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D047069:Pyrazolones; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000082:Acetaminophen; D001591:Benzydamine; D004177:Dipyrone; C008667:noramidopyrine; D001241:Aspirin; C012655:nimesulide