Comparison of hydroxyzine and doxepin in treatment of pruritus due to sulfur mustard.

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of doxepin and hydroxyzine in the treatment of chronic pruritus due to exposure to sulfur mustard.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind safety and efficacy study, 50 patients with chronic pruritus were given either doxepin 10 mg/d or hydroxyzine 25 mg/d for 4 weeks. Pruritic score was calculated for each patient before treatment and 1 month after.

Results: After treatment, the mean pruritic scores +/- SD of the hydroxyzine and doxepin groups were 16.7+/-2.3 and 17.8+/-2.5, respectively. The severity of pruritus was decreased in 80% of patients in the hydroxyzine group and 75% in the doxepin group (P=.786). Eighteen patients in the hydroxyzine group and 14 patients in the doxepin group reported sedation.

Conclusions: Both hydroxyzine and doxepin are effective and have equivalent results in controlling the symptoms of patients with chronic pruritus due to exposure to sulfur mustard.