Table IV. Oral Medications (N=146).
| N (%) | Effect on Pruritus1 (SD) | |
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| For Pruritus: | ||
| Hydroxyzine | 57 (39.0) | -0.9 (0.8) |
| Doxepin | 9 (6.2) | -0.9 (0.6) |
| Oral corticosteroids | 15 (10.3) | -0.8 (0.9) |
| Cetirizine | 27 (18.5) | -0.7 (0.7) |
| Ondansetron | 12 (8.2) | -0.7 (0.7) |
| Benzodiazepines | 12 (8.2) | -0.7 (0.7) |
| Diphenhydramine | 48 (32.9) | -0.6 (0.7) |
| Gabapentin | 24 (16.4) | -0.5 (0.6) |
| Amitryptyline | 5 (3.4) | -0.4 (0.5) |
| Loratadine | 18 (12.3) | -0.3 (0.6) |
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor | 6 (4.1) | -0.3 (0.5) |
| Chlorpheniramine | 3 (2.1) | -0.3 (0.6) |
| Fexofenadine | 10 (6.8) | -0.1 (0.3) |
| Cyproheptadine | 7 (4.5) | -0.1 (0.4) |
| Desloratadine | 2 (1.4) | 0.0 (0.0) |
| Mirtazapine | 4 (2.7) | 0.3 (0.5) |
|
| ||
| For Pain: | ||
| Ketamine | 2 (1.4) | -0.5 (0.7) |
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug | 65 (44.5) | -0.3 (0.5) |
| Acetaminophen | 69 (47.3) | -0.2 (0.6) |
| Opioids | 55 (37.7) | 0.3 (1.1) |
|
| ||
| For Sleep: | ||
| Zolpidem | 8 (5.5) | -0.8 (1.4) |
| Trazadone | 4 (2.7) | -0.8 (0.5) |
| Over-the counter sleep aids | 11 (7.5) | -0.5 (1.0) |
| Ramelteon | 1 (0.7) | -1.0 |
| Zaleplon | 1 (0.7) | 0 |
1
-2=Relieves itch a lot, -1=Relieves itch a little, 0=No change, 1=Increases itch a little, 2=Increases itch a lot