2010 Volume 9 Issue 3 Pages 271-281
Using an Internet questionnaire, we compared degrees of satisfaction and outcomes between patients consulting doctors for pruritus and patients purchasing over the counter (OTC) drugs. Doctors prescribed oral drugs for pruritus to 60% of patients with itching. Among these, 60% expressed satisfaction with the oral drugs and recognized effects obtained from these agents. Eighty-five percent of patients with urticaria indicated that topical drugs are effective and 70% expressed satisfaction with these agents. We considered that topical drugs exhibited high psychological and physical effects on itching, in addition to their pharmacological effects. When patients with itching purchase oral or topical drugs OTC, only 25% of adults and 12% of children received an explanation from the pharmacist. Adults purchasing OTC drugs expressed the same degrees of satisfaction as those receiving prescribed drugs. Compliance of adult patients with prescribed and OTC oral drugs was as high as 60%. However, the compliance for prescribed and OTC topical drugs was as low as 39% and 26% in adults, respectively. Patients showed a tendency to use topical drugs when they felt an itching sensation. Topical drugs for urticaria may provide satisfaction for patients with pruritus, in addition to their pharmacological effects. Skin Research, 9: 271-281, 2010
