title: Cutaneous drug eruption from cetirizine and hydroxyzine.
abstract: Topical application of the antihistamines commonly leads to sensitization for patients, but skin reactions provoked by their systemic use are very rare. The antihistamines cetirizine and hydroxyzine are piperazine derivatives, on the structural basis of an ethylenediamine, but the cross-reactions between the 2 have rarely been reported. A 44-year-old man visited because of the generalized morbilliform eruptions with pruritus over his whole body, after intake of hydroxyzine (Ucerax) and azelastine (Azeptine), administered during a 2-day period for chronic urticaria. Previously, he had presented the same cutaneous reactions after oral administration of cetirizine (Lotec). Oral challenge tests performed with cetirizine and hydroxyzine led to the same cutaneous reactions. He was given the diagnosis of drug eruption from cetirizine and hydroxyzine, which suggests that there were cross-reactions among cetirizine, hydroxyzine, and ethylenediamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bark-Lin
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: Choong-Rim
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Haw
authors.forename: Mu-Hyoung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D006919:Hydroxyzine; D017332:Cetirizine