Effects of trimeprazine and trimipramine on nocturnal scratching in patients with atopic eczema.

Twelve men with severe and long-standing atopic eczema were admitted to a double-blind trial to establish the effects of trimeprazine tartrate, trimipramine maleate, and placebo on nocturnal scratching. Neither of the drugs altered the likelihood of a scratching bout beginning in wakefulness or in any stage of sleep. However, both drugs, especially trimipramine, made sleep less broken, and the reduced time spent in stage 1 of sleep accounted for a modest reduction in the overall amount of scratching during the night.