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Comparison of gabapentin and hydroxyzine in the treatment of pruritus in patients on dialysis
Author(s) -
Mohammadi Kebar S.,
Sharghi A.,
Ghorghani M.,
Hoseininia S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/ced.14270
Subject(s) - medicine , hydroxyzine , dialysis , visual analogue scale , gabapentin , randomized controlled trial , hemodialysis , crossover study , anesthesia , surgery , gastroenterology , placebo , alternative medicine , pathology
Background Pruritus is one of the most common problems in patients with chronic renal failure. Of all patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), 60–80% report pruritus during their life. Aim To compare the effect of gabapentin (GBP) and hydroxyzine (HYDZ) in treating pruritus in patients on dialysis. Methods In a double‐blind, randomized, crossover clinical trial, 32 patients on dialysis who reported pruritus were assigned randomly to receive either GBP or HYDZ for 6 weeks; the first group received GBP 100 mg/day orally and the second group received HYDZ 25 mg/day orally for 6 weeks. After this 6‐week period (Period 1) there was a washout period of 2 weeks then patients were crossed over to the other drug (the first group receiving HYDZ and second group receiving GBP) and followed up for a further 6 weeks (Period 2). A visual analogue scale was used to measure pruritus intensity in the groups before and after the first and second period. Results In Period 1, pruritus severity decreased from 7.1 ± 1.46 at baseline to 2.17 ± 1.82 at 6 weeks in the GBP group ( P = 0.001) and from 6.83 ± 2.11 to 2.86 ± 1.67 in the HYDZ group ( P = 0.001). In Period 2, pruritus severity decreased from 5.1 ± 1.61 at baseline to 1.56 ± 0.82 at 6 weeks in the GBP group ( P < 0.01) and from 5.23 ± 2.11 to 2.1 ± 1.87 in the HYDZ group ( P = 0.001). Conclusion Results showed that both HYDZ and GBP significantly improved and controlled pruritus in patients on dialysis, with no significant difference observed between the two drugs.