Successful management of cancer related pruritus by using mirtazapine: a case report

Abstract

Introduction: It is difficult to manage that pruritus complicated with jaundice, for invalidity of almost all antihistamines. Recently, effects of paroxetine for pruritus are reported, but the report to invalid cases of paroxetine is rare. We report a case treated effectively with mirtazapine for pruritus of the paroxetine invalid. Case report: A 56-years old woman was diagnosed cancer of head of pancreas and peritoneal dissemination. After stenting by a plastic stent for obstructive jaundice in previous hospital, she came to our hospital. But, her total bilirubin (T-bil) were very high (9.9 mg/dl), and she was suffering from systemic pruritus. The NRS (numerical rating scale) score for pruritus was 9-10. Though she was prescribed an antihistamine in previous hospital, it was invalid. We had changed it to paroxetine, but pruritus were protraction two weeks later. After changing it to mirtazapine, the pruritus became NRS 1 on the next day, and recurrence was not seen subsequently. Conclusion: For pruritus of the paroxetine invalid, mirtazapine is important as one of the choices.