Research Progress In Antiepileptic Drugs For Chronic Pruritus

Objective: Chronic pruritus CP often leads to intractable scratching,which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients.Conventional antihistamine drugs and local treatments are often ineffective,especially for intractable itching with complicated or unknown causes.This article aims to discuss the efficacy and safety of a new class of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of chronic itching.Methods: Search for the original papers or case reports published so far on gabapentin and pregabalin in the treatment of chronic itching,and analyze their effectiveness and side effects.Results: Gabapentin and pregabalin can significantly improve the symptoms of uremic pruritus at lower doses,and the effective dose for neuropathic pruritus is generally higher.In addition,there are reports of nodular pruritus,scar pruritus after burns,Drug-induced pruritus and pruritus in the elderly have a certain degree of improvement.Common adverse reactions are dizziness,drowsiness,etc.Most patients can be gradually tolerated,and a small part can be significantly relieved by reducing the amount or stopping the drug.Conclusion: Gabapentin and pregabalin,as a new class of antiepileptic drugs,can significantly reducethe excitability of the nervous system and relieve various chronic pruritus to varying degrees,especially for renal pruritus,neuropathic pruritus and itching after burn Remarkable and good safety,it is recommended to gradually increase the amount of clinical use from low dose.