Doxepin in the treatment of chronic urticaria

24 patients were included in a double-blind, crossover trial to test the efficacy of doxepin (a tricyclic antidepressant) and mequitazine (a new antihistamine of the phenothiazine group). Compared to placebo treatment, both doxepin and mequitazine significantly improved the various clinical parameters evaluated. When the two active drugs were compared with each other, no significant difference in their effectiveness was found. The authors conclude that both agents are equally useful in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.