Other
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as doxepin, also are often potent H1 and H2 antagonists and may have a role in therapy, although side effects limit their use. For very severe outbreaks, an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone is sometimes prescribed. However, this form of treatment is controversial because of the extensive side effects common with corticosteroids, and as such, is not a recommended long-term treatment option. For acute urticaria, some topical creams, such as hydrocortisone, fluocinonide, or desonide, can also be prescribed to relieve itching. To boost relief for severe anaphylactic urticaria, a dermatologist will also administer steroid shots intramuscularly.
As of 2008, an Australian company is performing clinical trials with an analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone called afamelanotide (formerly CUV1647), for the treatment of solar urticaria, a type of urticaria that develops in response to exposure to specific wavelengths of light.
Therapy-refractory cases with urticaria may sometimes respond to unusual drugs, such as dapsone.
Read more about this topic: Urticaria, Management