Unbearable Pruritus After Withdrawal of (Levo)cetirizine.

Twelve cases of unbearable pruritus several days after withdrawal of (levo)cetirizine were reported to the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb. Eleven reports concerned women and one report concerned a man, aged 19-58 years. These patients had been using these antihistamines continuously for months or years. They had tried to stop using antihistamines on several occasions but felt unable to withdraw the drug because of the unbearable maddening itch. Finally, slowly tapering the drug or using a short course of corticosteroids helped to withdraw (levo)cetirizine. The Naranjo assessment score ranged from two to four for all the cases, indicating a possible relationship.