Drugs used in the treatment of pruritus in PBC?
High-Yield Explanation
The main symptoms of PBC are fatigue and pruritus, and symptom management is impoant.Several therapies have been tried for treatment of fatigue, but none of them have been successful; frequent naps should be encouraged. Pruritus is treated with antihistamines, narcotic receptor antagonists (naltrexone), and rifampin. Cholestyramine, a bile salt-sequestering agent, has been helpful. Plasmapheresis has been used rarely in patients with severe intractable pruritus.Ref: Harrison&;s Principles of Internal Medicine; 19th edition; Chapter 365; Cirrhosis and Its Complications Page no: 2061