Oxatomide in the treatment of pruritus senilis. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

The antiallergic drug oxatomide was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in 35 patients with pruritus senilis. The trial was run in the wintertime, and the patients were orally given either 30 mg oxatomide b.i.d. (n = 19) or a placebo (n = 16) for 2 months. Complete suppression or marked improvement of the complaints was experienced by 79% of the patients given oxatomide and by 31% of the control patients. Oxatomide was superior to the placebo in reducing both the duration and the severity of itching. The need of additional topical medication was higher in the placebo group. Somnolence and cramps were each reported by 1 oxatomide-treated patient.