Drug-induced pruritus
Last Updated: 2020-11-19
Last Updated: 2020-11-19
Author(s): Navarini
Very common problem with drug therapy. With certain substances such as opioids the pruritus is almost inevitable.
In the chronic stage, it is often difficult to establish the link between the medication and the pruritus. If, on the other hand, pruritus occurs within a few days of starting a drug, then the interpretation is easy.
Pruritus can be caused by an idiosyncratic reaction, or by a specific immune response, or finally by a dermatosis caused by the medication.
The list of medications should be systematically checked for frequently pruritogenic substances. We have first listed the most important classes, followed by an alphabetical list of known individual substances, which can be used to review the patient's list of medications.
Medication classes:
Individual substances:
Discontinuation of the causal medication.
