Antipruritic

Antipruritics, abirritants,[1] or anti-itch drugs, are medications that inhibit the itching (Latin: pruritus) often associated with sunburns, allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, fungal infections, insect bites and stings like those from mosquitoes, fleas, and mites, and contact dermatitis and urticaria caused by plants such as poison ivy (urushiol-induced contact dermatitis) or stinging nettle. It can also be caused by chronic kidney disease and related conditions.[2]

Abirritants consist of a large group of drugs belonging to different classes with varying mechanisms to treat itch. They may work either directly or indirectly to relieve itch, and evidence on their effectiveness varies from one class to another.[3] Some alternative medicines are also used to treat itch.[4][5] Side effects of abirritants also vary depending on the class of the drug. Even before the emergence of modern evidence-based medicine, abirritants have already been used in many civilizations, but practices and choice of drugs may differ by culture.[6]

  1. ^ "Antipruritic definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  2. ^ Butler, David F. (2020-12-11). "Pruritus and Systemic Disease: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology". Medscape.
  3. ^ Simonsen E, Komenda P, Lerner B, Askin N, Bohm C, Shaw J, et al. (November 2017). "Treatment of Uremic Pruritus: A Systematic Review". American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 70 (5): 638–655. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.05.018. PMID 28720208.
  4. ^ Shi ZF, Song TB, Xie J, Yan YQ, Du YP (2017). "The Traditional Chinese Medicine and Relevant Treatment for the Efficacy and Safety of Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017: 6026434. doi:10.1155/2017/6026434. PMC 5497608. PMID 28713436.
  5. ^ Tabassum N, Hamdani M (January 2014). "Plants used to treat skin diseases". Pharmacognosy Reviews. 8 (15): 52–60. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.125531. PMC 3931201. PMID 24600196.
  6. ^ Weisshaar E, Grüll V, König A, Schweinfurth D, Diepgen TL, Eckart WU (December 2009). "The symptom of itch in medical history: highlights through the centuries". International Journal of Dermatology. 48 (12): 1385–94. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04117.x. PMID 20415680. S2CID 28909284.