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Chlorpheniramine is no more effective than placebo in relieving the symptoms of childhood atopic dermatitis with a nocturnal itching and scratching component.
District Dermatology Clinic, Gdansk, Poland. imunday@intercern.com
BACKGROUND: Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disorder affecting 15% of children aged over 18 months. AD is associated with intense nocturnal itching. The central sedative effect of antihistamines is thought to be useful in interrupting the itching cycle and may prevent exacerbations. OBJECTIVE: A multi-centred, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 155 children to evaluate chlorpheniramine in alleviating symptoms of AD. METHODS: Assessments were carried out over a 4-week study period consisting of 3 visits to out-patient clinics. During the visits the severity of AD and itching was rated using a series of visual analogue scale (VAS) and 5-point rating scales. RESULTS: The use of chlorpheniramine resulted in no greater alleviation of AD symptoms than placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contradict conventional wisdom that the sedative effect of earlier-generation antihistamines alleviates symptoms of AD. The study also indicates that the use of antihistamines in AD does not affect the amounts of topical treatment used over the short term. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
PMID: 12145433 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Cited by 3 PubMed Central articles
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Association of the histamine N-methyltransferase C314T (Thr105Ile) polymorphism with atopic dermatitis in Caucasian children.
Kennedy MJ, Loehle JA, Griffin AR, Doll MA, Kearns GL, Sullivan JE, Hein DW.
Pharmacotherapy. 2008 Dec; 28(12):1495-501.
[Pharmacotherapy. 2008]
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Spontaneous scratching behaviour in DS-Nh mice as a possible model for pruritus in atopic dermatitis.
Yoshioka T, Hikita I, Asakawa M, Hirasawa T, Deguchi M, Matsutani T, Oku H, Horikawa T, Arimura A.
Immunology. 2006 Jul; 118(3):293-301.
[Immunology. 2006]
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ReviewFrontiers in pruritus research: scratching the brain for more effective itch therapy.
Paus R, Schmelz M, Bíró T, Steinhoff M.
J Clin Invest. 2006 May; 116(5):1174-86.
[J Clin Invest. 2006]
Patient Drug Information
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Hydrocortisone Topical (Ala-Cort® , Ala-Scalpt® , Anucort-HC® , ...)
Hydrocortisone is available with or without a prescription. Low-strength preparations (0.5% or 1%) are used without a prescription for the temporary relief of (1) minor skin irritations, itching, and rashes caused by ecz...
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Chlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor® , Aller-Chlor® Syrup, Chlo-Amine® , ...)
Chlorpheniramine relieves red, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; itchy nose or throat; and runny nose caused by allergies, hay fever, and the common cold. Chlorpheniramine helps control the symptoms of cold or allergies but ...