Cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine in the treatment of pruritus due to sulfur mustard: a randomized clinical trial.
A 4-week randomized, double-blind safety and efficacy study was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine 5 in the treatment of chronic pruritus due to sulfur mustard. Patients were treated in the Dermatology Clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital. The study population consisted of 75 patients with chronic pruritus due to sulfur mustard exposure. Patients were given either cetirizine 10 mg, doxepine 10 mg, or hydroxyzine 25 mg/day, for 4 weeks. A calculated pruritic score for each patient was taken before and 1 month after treatment. Mean before-treatment pruritic scores were 38.2 +/- 4.8, 37.2 +/- 4.9, and 37.3 +/- 5.1 in the cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine groups, respectively. After treatment, the mean pruritic scores were 24.8 +/- 3.1, 17.8 +/- 2.5, and 16.7 +/- 2.3 in the cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine groups, respectively. In addition, 65%, 75%, and 80% of patients in the cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine groups were downgraded in the severity of pruritus (P 1/4 0.465). Sedation effects were reported in 6, 14, and 18 patients in the cetirizine, doxepine, and hydroxyzine groups, respectively. Hydroxyzine 25 mg/day has equal results compared to doxepine 10 mg once daily; but greater than cetirizine 10 mg once a day in controlling the symptoms of patients with chronic pruritus.
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. shohratimajid@yahoo.com
Majid
M
Shohrati
Seyed-Masoud
SM
Davoudi
Saeed
S
Keshavarz
Bardia
B
Sadr
Ali
A
Tajik
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004316:Doxepin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007492:Iran; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000982:Antipruritics; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004316:Doxepin; D006919:Hydroxyzine; D009151:Mustard Gas; D017332:Cetirizine