What's Up with this ITCHING?

hey ya'll

 

yeah it's me again. lol. as you can tell...been having a lot of problems lately.

okay...what is up with this CRAZY ITCHING all over the arms, legs, and abdomen?

the only "new" meds that have been introduced recently have been mercaptopurine, Entocort, and Arthotec (arthrotec i stopped last week).

so i have been on the new meds for over 2 weeks about.

liver labs checked out as fine sunday at the ER...i know sometimes with liver involvement there can be really bad itching.  but mine are fine.

Benedryl isn't helping at all.

 

no itching occured when i initially started them.

GI dude said on rare occasions he had pts complain of itching on the 6MP...but he doesn't know why this is going on & doesn't think the meds would do it.

i had some problems last week along witht he itching that worried my doc & made him concerned about kidney deterioration...but sunday at the hospital all tests ruled that out...so i'm stumped.

 

now, this isn't just an "itch...ok go scratch it."  it's a persistant ongoing annoyance that's starting to really damage the skin on my torso.

 

anyone go through this? what works/helps besides Benedryl?

thanx for any info.

Hi Erin--I've gone through something similar. It's like an itch under the skin that gets worse and worse the longer you scratch it? the only thing that provided TEMPORARY relief was lotion--preferably a thick one, as opposed to a thin and runny one. I tried calamine lotion, too, but it didn't seem to help any more than other types of lotion. I also assumed it was med related, but I never followed up with it. After a few months it gradually got better and better and eventually went away on its own. It happened with ultracet, relafen, and plaquenil. No issues on the enbrel or mtx? For me, I just think it was an adjustment period for my body to get used to the new medication. If it hadn't gone away between rheumy appointments, I would have mentioned it to my rheumy. Now that I think of it, I also had this severe itching reaction to the epidural I had for my c-section several years ago. Anesthesiologist told me it was a reaction to the medication. Went away, but I vaguely recall getting an IV med for it (perhaps benadryl)? It might be that benadryl would help you, but not at the low doses you would take OTC. You might need IV benadryl?

Hope it gets better--cool water was very soothing, but then it was August at the time. Not sure that would do well for you in February.

El

HI Erin.............................Sorry Your iiiiiiiichy. Have you seen an allergist. I go to one for asthma. he told me peole can develop allergies at any time. Auto immune disorders put us at risk. Maybe you have developed a new allergy. You have been through so much lately. I hate to hear you suffering. Hope you feel better soon dearie.

hey thanks guys
the sores on my back that sprouted up last week...those suckers itch too! showed em' to my GI guy & everything. most likely just the scratchies from the meds that'll go away in time.
this too shall pass
:)

 Hiya Eve. Nope, nope no change in detergent, soap or shampoo (lol... I do not like change! lol)  Since Friday the itching has eased substantially...now only left with some raw skin.  After talking & showing this problem to my doc & some nurses, I think it's safe to say it's a topical reaction to my meds (like a systemic reaction).

I'm happy as long as it stays this way & doesn't come back.

Thanks!

 

Uh oh, maybe it was some of the lotions I sent? Do you think?