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Drug Information Chart

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The medications shown below are ones that may be prescribed for chronic urticaria, either alone or in combinations.

When you click one of the links to more information, a new window opens to the relevant page in MedlinePlus, a site that provides health information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

This chart is not to be taken as medical advice or as evaluation of any of these substances. Always follow your doctor's advice for how and when to take medications.

Drug types

Adrenergic bronchodilator/sympathomimetic
H1 blocker
H2 blocker
Immunosuppressant
Leukotriene blocker
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)
Steroidal anti-inflammatory
Various others

Drug type: Adrenergic bronchodilator/sympathomimetic

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Epinephrine (inhaled)

Primatene Mist

Over-the-counter in US.

Emergency inhaler for anaphylactic shock. After use, you should go to the hospital. (Recommended as part of daily emergency kit for CU patients, particularly those who have angioedema or who have ever experienced anaphylaxis.) More info . . .

Epinephrine (injected)

Epi-pen

Prescription in US.

Emergency medication for anaphylactic shock, injected by patient. After use, you should go to the hospital. (Recommended as part of daily emergency kit for CU patients, particularly those who have angioedema or who have ever experienced anaphylaxis.) More info . . .

Terbutylene

Brethine
Bricanyl

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Drug type: H1 blocker

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Doxepin

Sinequan

H1 and H2 blocker
tricyclic antidepressant. Prescription in US. Often prescribed as antidepressant. More info . . .

Cetirizine

Reactin
Zyrtec

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Chlorpheniramine

Chlor-Trimetron
Piriton
Chlorphenamine

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Cyproheptadine

Periactin

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Desloratadine

Aerius
Clarinex

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Diphenhydramine

Benadryl

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Fexofenadine

Allegra
Telfast

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Hydroxyzine

Atarax
Multipax
Vistaril

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Loratadine

Claritin
Alavert

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Mizolastine

Mizollen
Lorex-Synthélabo

Not available in US. More info . . .

Ketotifen

Apo-Ketotifen
Novo-Ketotifen
Zaditen

Ketotifen brand names

H1 blocker and
mast cell stabilizer. Not available in US. More info . . .

Drug type: H2 blocker

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Doxepin

Sinequan

H1 and H2 blocker
tricyclic antidepressant. Prescription in US. Often prescribed as antidepressant. More info . . .

Cimetidine

Peptol
Tagamet

Cimetidine brand names

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Famotidine

Mylanta
Pepcid
Ulcidine

Famotidine brand names

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Nizatidine

Axid

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Ranitidine

Zantac

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Drug type: Immunosuppressant

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Azathioprine 

Imuran

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Cyclophosphamide

Cytoxan
Neosar
Procytox

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Cyclosporine

Neoral
Sandimmune
SangCya

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Drug type: Leukotriene blocker

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Montelukast sodium

Singulair

Prescription in US. Prescribed for asthma and allergies. More info . . .

Zafirlukast

Accolate

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Zileuton

Zyflo

Prescription in US. More info . . .

Drug type: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Diclofenac

Cataflam
Voltaren

Over-the-counter in US. More info . . .

Naproxen

Aleve
Anaprox
Naprelan
Naprosyn

Over-the-counter in US. CAUTION: In some patients, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) can worsen hives and bring on anaphylaxis. More info . . .
See the FAQ for more information about CU and NSAIDs.

Drug type: Steroidal anti-inflammatory immunosuppressant corticosteroid

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Methylprednisolone

DepMedalone
Depoject
Depo-Medrol
Depopred
Medrol
Predacorten
Solu-Medrol

Prescription in US. Remaining on steroids for long periods of time, as sometimes happens with CU patients, can result in the following side effects (among others).

  • mood swings
  • increased appetite/weight gain
  • increased eye pressure causing glaucoma
  • osteoporosis
  • and many more

Stopping steroid use must be done with a long slow taper to prevent rebound effects.

More info . . .

Prednisolone

Articulose-50
Cotolone
Delta-Cortef
Key-Pred
Nor-Pred
Pediapred
Predalone
Predate
Predcor
Pred-Ject
Prelone

Prednisone

Apo-Prednisone
Cordrol

Drug Type—Various

Generic name

Brand name

Notes

Cromolyn (sodium cromoglycate)

Gastrocrom
Nalcrom

Antiallergic and mast cell stabilizer. Prescription in US. Cromolyn is a mast cell stabilizer, which means it prevents mast cell degranulation. It is poorly absorbed, and works best directly at the site you are trying to control. This is why it comes in so many forms - Gastrocrom is used for food allergies and the GI symptoms of systemic mastocytosis, Intal is the inhaled form used in asthma, Nasalcrom is for nasal allergies, and eye drops are used for eye allergies. In a pinch, you can spray some Nasalcrom directly on an especially itchy spot of skin for instant relief More info . . .

Fluconazole

Diflucan

Antifungal. Prescription in US. More info . . .

Dapsone

Avlosulfon

Anti-infective. Prescription in US. More info . . .

Hydroxychloroquine

Plaquenil

Antiprotozoal, immunosuppressant. Prescription in US. More info . . .

Nifedipine

Adalat
Novo-Nifedin
Procardia

Calcium channel blocker. Prescription in US. More info . . .