[Treatment of pruritic skin diseases with loratadine. Results of an open multicenter study].

Within the framework of a field study, Loratidine (Lisino) was administered to a total of 5,806 patients suffering from pruritic dermatological disorders, i.e. urticaria, neurodermatitis and eczema. As a guideline for the duration of the treatment, a period of three weeks was selected; however, many patients showed a response in a shorter time. The standard dose of loratidine was one 10-mg tablet a day. At the end of the treatment period, 69.6% the urticaria patients were free from pruritus, and 77.6% were free from wheals. In the case of the eczema patients, 47.6% were pruritus-free, while the remaining patients all showed some improvement. In the majority of cases pruritus decreased appreciably after only one hour, but at the latest on the first day of treatment. Treatment with loratidine was tolerated without side effects by 5,593 patients (96.3%).