This paper studied how different doses of cetirizine (an antihistamine) affect atopic dermatitis symptoms in adults. The researchers compared placebo to three different doses of cetirizine (10mg, 20mg, and 40mg) taken daily for 4 weeks.
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Dose ranging study: cetirizine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults
Dose ranging study: cetirizine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults
M Hannuksela, K Kalimo, K Lammintausta, T Mattila, K Turjanmaa, E Varjonen, P J Coulie
Controlled Clinical Trial
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178 participants
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1993
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11 citations
Key insights related to Zyrtec from this study:
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What is this paper about?
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How did the authors study this?
This was a double-blind, randomized study comparing four groups of patients. They measured symptoms like itching (using visual scales), redness, blisters, scratching marks, and skin thickening across 14 body areas. All patients were allowed to use basic treatments like moisturizers and 1% hydrocortisone.
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What populations did the authors study?
The study included 178 adults with atopic dermatitis, with 127 of them completing the study for effectiveness analysis.
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What did the authors find?
All treatment groups showed improvement in symptoms like redness, scratching marks, skin thickening, and itching. The 40mg dose of cetirizine worked significantly better than placebo for most symptoms. The 20mg dose only showed significant improvement over placebo for itching. The benefits of cetirizine increased with higher doses.
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What conclusions can we draw?
Cetirizine showed dose-dependent effectiveness in treating atopic dermatitis symptoms, with the 40mg dose being most effective. The medication was particularly helpful in reducing itching, even at lower doses.
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