Cold urticaria

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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

There is no cure for cold urticaria, but treatment can help. Treatment includes avoiding cold temperatures and exposure to sudden changes in temperature. Medications can help prevent and reduce symptoms.

Medications used to treat cold urticaria include:

  • Antihistamines. These medications block the symptom-producing release of histamine. Some of these medications are available over-the-counter, whereas others require a prescription. Examples include loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal) and desloratadine (Clarinex).
  • Cyproheptadine. This medication is an antihistamine that also affects nerve impulses that lead to symptoms.
  • Doxepin (Silenor). Normally used to treat anxiety and depression, this medication can also reduce cold urticaria symptoms.

These medications won't cure cold urticaria — they'll only ease symptoms. If you have cold urticaria because of an underlying health problem, you may need medications or other treatment for that condition as well.

Prevention Tests and diagnosis
References
  1. Habif TP. Urticaria and angioedema. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00015-8&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1198617057&uniqId=277214028-7#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00015-8. Accessed Aug. 28, 2011.
  2. Kaplan AP. Urticaria and angioedema. In: Adkinson NF, et al. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00061-9--cesec4&isbn=978-0-323-05659-5&sid=1198615031&uniqId=277214028-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00061-9--cesec5. Accessed Aug. 30, 2011.
  3. Atkins D, et al. Urticaria (hives) and angioedema. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0755-7..00142-1--s0015&isbn=978-1-4377-0755-7&sid=1198760422&uniqId=277214028-10#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0755-7..00142-1--s0015. Accessed Aug. 29, 2011.
  4. Nichols KM, et al. Allergic skin disease: Major highlights and recent advances. Medical Clinics of North America. 2009;93:1211.
  5. Fromer L. Treatment options for the relief of chronic idiopathic urticaria symptoms. Southern Medical Journal. 2008;101:186.
DS01160 Nov. 15, 2011

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