Over-the-counter topical antipruritic agents are commonly recommended by office-based physicians: an analysis of US practice patterns.
BACKGROUND
Pruritus is one of the most common complaints among patients who visit physicians. Over-the-counter topical antipruritic medications are widely recommended by physicians and are self-administered by patients for the treatment of pruritus. However, there are few scientific controlled studies evaluating the effect of these drugs on pruritus.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of physician-recommended over-the-counter medications for the treatment of pruritus.


METHODS
Records were analyzed for office-based physician visits in which over-the-counter antipruritic topical medications were recommended in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between the years 1995 and 2000.


RESULTS
The largest proportion of over-the-counter antipruritic agent recommendations were during visits to dermatologists, accounting for 41% of all such recommendations. Other physicians that recommended such agents included family physicians and pediatricians, accounting respectively for 26% and 21% of the recommendations. The most commonly recommended over-the-counter medications included hydrocortisone preparations (72%) and diphenhydramine (15%). Over-the-counter medications were more frequently recommended in the pediatric age group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that over-the-counter medications are frequently recommended for the treatment of pruritus.
Duque
M I
MI
Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Vogel
C A
CA
Fleischer
A B
AB
Yosipovitch
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000982:Antipruritics; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone