Mirtazapine for reducing nocturnal itch in patients with chronic pruritus

A pilot study

Hundley, Jennifer L. BA
Yosipovitch, Gil MD

^aDepartment of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
^bNeuroscience Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Reprint requests: Gil Yosipovitch, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Winston-Salem, NC 27157. E-mail: [email protected].

Funding sources: None.

Conflicts of interest: None identified.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 50(6):p 889-891, June 2004.

Nocturnal pruritus is a significant problem for patients with inflammatory skin diseases and many systemic diseases. The oral therapies currently available have a limited effect. We present an open, uncontrolled pilot study of 3 patients with inflammatory skin diseases and severe nocturnal pruritus who underwent treatment with mirtazapine (Remeron), a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant. Mirtazapine is a safe medication without serious side effects and may be an effective alternative for the treatment of nocturnal pruritus.