This review begins with a brief survey of the neurophysiology and neuroanatomy of pruritus, and goes on to describe the etiology of the major allergic and nonallergic pruritic disorders. The etiology of pruritus often suggests the appropriate treatment. For example, urticaria, which is primarily mediated by histamine, is amenable to treatment with H1 antihistamines. Second-generation, nonsedati...

Docetaxel has been widely used in the treatment of several cancers, including adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland. As docetaxel is insoluble in water, it must be administered with polysorbate 80 and ethanol, which are known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines is advocated prior to docetaxel administration; however, toxicities, occasionally...

Nonsedating antihistamines are recommended as first-line treatment for patients with urticaria. The current European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology/Global Allergy and Asthma European Network/European Dermatology Forum (EAACI/GA 2 LEN/EDF) guidelines call for updosing of nonsedating antihistamines (up to four times the standard dose) in those urticaria patients who do not respond...

A review of the scientific literature concerning the effects of antihistamines on driving-related skills was conducted. After reviewing all pertinent publications from 1998 and earlier, a total of 130 publications were found to meet criteria for inclusion in the data summaries. A data base was created with study results being indexed, and summarized, by specific drug, dose, dosing schedule (i.e...

Allergic diseases have greatly increased in industrialized countries. About 30% of people suffer from allergic symptoms and 40%-80% of them have symptoms in the eyes. Atopic conjunctivitis can be divided into seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). The treatment of SAC is simple; antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, or chromoglycate. In severe ca...