Tolerability of Etoricoxib in patients affected by Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs induced urticaria: A single blind placebo study on 37 subjects

Introduction: To evaluate the tolerability of etoricoxb, a new COX-2 inhibitor, in Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) sensitive patients with urticaria-type adverse reactions. Materials and methods: 37 patients with NSAIDs adverse reactions were submitted to a single blind, placebo controllerd oral challenge with increasing doses of Etoricoxib. Results: 34 patients tolerated Etoricoxib without adverse reactions, but 3 (7%) experienced a generalized urticarial rash. Conclusions: Etoricoxib, as well as other COX-2 inhibitors, represents a well tollerated drug in most of the NSAIDs sensitive patients, despite that, according to our experience, a previous challenge test in a safe enviroment should be necessary before prescibing it to the patient.