Dimetindene versus astemizole in the treatment of itching eczematous disorders: a randomized, double-blind, comparative trial

We performed a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial to compare the antipruritic efficacy and tolerability of dimetindene 2.5 mg (DIM) versus astemizole 10 mg (AST) over a 2-week treatment. Forty-five patients suffering from eczematous disorders or lichen planus were initially included. Out of them, 42 were finally evaluable. Patients recorded pruritus intensity twice-daily on a visual analogue scale (VAS). In the analysis on the VAS data both products revealed to be effective on pruritus. DIM appeared to exhibit a faster onset of action and higher efficacy than AST, but the difference failed to show statistical significance