Successful treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria and angioedema with cimetidine alone.

Abstract We have studied a 50-year-old white man with chronic urticaria and angioedema who has responded to treatment with cimetidine alone for over 2 yr. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, cimetidine alone was at least as effective as chlorpheniramine in relief of urticaria and angioedema. Additionally, cimetidine significantly inhibited ( p p 2 - rather than H 1 -histamine receptors in the cutaneous blood vessels may be responsible for the therapeutic effects of cimetidine in this patient.