A comparative study on the effects of naltrexone and loratadine on uremic pruritus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Two recent studies have provided opposite results on the efficacy of naltrexone on uremic pruritus. We have performed a third study.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the efficacy and tolerance of naltrexone and loratadine in uremic pruritus.

PATIENTS/METHODS:

Among 296 hemodialyzed patients, 65 suffered from uremic pruritus. Fifty-two patients participated in the study. The patients were treated for 2 weeks with naltrexone (50 mg/day; 26 patients) or loratadine (10 mg/day; 26 patients), after a washout of 48 h. Pruritus intensity was scored by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Adverse events were carefully searched for. The two groups were statistically equivalent.

RESULTS:

There was no significant difference in the mean VAS scores after treatment, but naltrexone allowed a dramatic decrease in VAS scores (Delta >3/10) in 7 patients. Adverse events (mainly nausea and sleep disturbances) were observed in 10/26 patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Naltrexone is effective only in a subset of patients. Adverse events are very frequent. The differences of efficacy and tolerance between patients might be due to metabolism. Naltrexone might be considered as a second-line treatment.

• Authors: Emmanuelle Legroux-Crespel, Jacques Clèdes, Laurent Misery
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 208 Issue 4 Pg. 326-30 ( 2004) ISSN: 1018-8665 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 15178915 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Antipruritics
• Naltrexone
• Loratadine

Topics

• Antipruritics (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Loratadine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Naltrexone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pruritus (drug therapy, pathology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• Uremia (drug therapy, pathology)