Pharmacokinetics and antipruritic effects of hydroxyzine in children with atopic dermatitis.

Abstract

We studied the pharmacokinetics and antipruritic effects of hydroxyzine hydrochloride in 12 children, mean age 6.1 +/- 4.6 years, with severe atopic dermatitis. After a single 0.7 mg/kg orally administered dose of the drug, the mean peak serum hydroxyzine concentration of 47.4 +/- 17.3 ng/ml occurred at a mean time of 2.0 +/- 0.9 hours. The mean elimination half-life was 7.1 +/- 2.3 hours, the mean clearance rate was 32.08 +/- 11.05 ml/min/kg, and the mean apparent volume of distribution was 18.5 +/- 8.6 L/kg. The elimination half-life increased with increasing age (r = 0.83). Pruritus was significantly suppressed from 1 to 24 hours after the administration of the dose, with greater than 85% suppression from 2 to 12 hours. The only adverse effect reported was sedation. In a subsequent double-blind, crossover, multiple-dose study of 2 weeks' duration, hydroxyzine 0.7 mg/kg three times daily was as effective as hydroxyzine 1.4 mg/kg three times daily in relieving pruritus and promoting resolution of the skin lesions. The 0.7 mg/kg tid dose caused significantly less sedation than the 1.4 mg/kg tid dose.

• Authors: F E Simons, K J Simons, A B Becker, R P Haydey
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 104 Issue 1 Pg. 123-7 (Jan 1984) ISSN: 0022-3476 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6361228 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipruritics
• Dermatologic Agents
• Hydroxyzine

Topics

• Antipruritics (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Dermatitis, Atopic (drug therapy)
• Dermatologic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Half-Life
• Humans
• Hydroxyzine (administration & dosage, blood, therapeutic use)
• Kinetics
• Male
• Metabolic Clearance Rate
• Random Allocation
• Time Factors