13.6 Pruritis
| First line drugs | Second line drugs | Specialist drugs | Secondary care drugs |
Traffic light status explained:
- Green: Routine prescribing within licensed indication
- Amber 1: specialist recommendation followed by GP initiation and continuation
- Amber 2: specialist or GP initiation in line with local guideline after 1st line failure followed by GP continuation
- Amber 3: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation
- Amber SCG: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation in line with an agreed shared care guideline
- Red: Hospital or specialist prescribing only
Topical local antipruritics
- An emollient may be of value where the pruritus is associated with dry skin.
- Antihistamines can prove valuable in treating generalised itching.
Calamine
- Calamine Lotion
Notes:
- Should not be prescribed in Primary Care or at Discharge
- Advise patient to purchase
Crotamiton
- Eurax® 10% cream (contains beeswax, fragrance, hydroxybenzoates (parabens), stearyl alcohol)
Notes:
- Should not be prescribed in Primary Care or at Discharge
- Advise patient to purchase, unless prescription is for long-term regular use
- Crotamiton dries skin, and is therefore not suitable for use in eczema.
Levomenthol
- Arjun® Menthol in aqueous cream - 0.5%, 1%, 2% cream
Notes:
- Should not be prescribed in Primary Care or at Discharge
- Advise patient to purchase, unless prescription is for long-term regular use
Last updated by: Dupe Fagbenro on 25-05-2018 12:40
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BNF
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NICE
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Summary of product characteristics
