A new study published in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin suggests that over the counter medications for insect bites are not actually effective. Antihistamine tablets are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat insect bites but a review of such drugs conducted by a group of experts revealed that there was little evidence that they were effective.
Lead researcher David Phizackerley and his colleagues conducted the study in Finland where they had access to drugs that are not licensed in Britain. The researchers found no evidence that drugs that are prescribed to reduce itching and inflammation were effective.
“There is little evidence for the efficacy of treatments for simple insect bites. The symptoms are often self limiting and in many cases, no treatment may be needed”, the researchers wrote in the report.
Source-Medindia