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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adolescent, Adult, Ambulatory Care, Antipruritics, Child, Diphenhydramine, Drug Utilization, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Nonprescription Drugs, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Pruritus, United States.
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Are over-the-counter topical antipruritic agents commonly recommended by office-based physicians : an analysis of US practice patterns? Context: Pruritus is one of the most common complaints among patients who visit physicians. Over-the-counter topical antipruritic medications are widely recommended by physicians and are self-administered by patients for the treatment of pruritus. However, there are few scientific controlled studies evaluating the effect of these drugs on pruritus. To assess the role of physician-recommended over-the-counter medications for the treatment of pruritus. Records were analyzed for office-based physician visits in which over-the-counter antipruritic topical medications were recommended in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between the years 1995 and 2000. The largest proportion of over-the-counter antipruritic agent recommendations were during visits to dermatologists, accounting for 41% of all such recommendations. Other physicians that recommended such agents included family physicians and pediatricians, accounting respectively for 26% and 21% of the recommendations. The most commonly recommended over-the-counter medications included hydrocortisone preparations (72%) and diphenhydramine (15%). Over-the-counter medications were more frequently recommended in the pediatric age group.
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This study demonstrates that over-the-counter medications are frequently recommended for the treatment of pruritus. Final Decision: yes