Gabapentin and uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients

Uremic Pruritus is one of the most common and frustrating symptom experience by patients with end-stage renal disease. Approximately 60% of dialysis patients experience pruritis, sometimes worse during the dialysis session. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gabapentin, 200 mg twice a week (after each hemodialysis session), on uremic pruritus. Patients older than 18 years who have undergone hemodialysis for more than three months will be enrolled in this double-blind clinical trial. The patients will be assigned to receive Gabapentin 200 mg following hemodialysis ( twice a week) for a period of four weeks, and after a washout week, they will receive the antihistamines for another four weeks. The patients will be asked to evaluate the severity of their pruritus using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Our results assured the efficacy of Gabapentin in the treatment of uremic pruritus, in comparison with Loratadine.