Guest guest Posted March 21, 2000 Report Share Posted March 21, 2000 Debbie, My brother suffers from itching as well. For relief he takes Benadryl (as needed) and uses a lotion (over the counter) called Sarna. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2000 Report Share Posted March 21, 2000 Debbie, I too have had long periods of terrible itching. One thing that seems to make a difference is to take liberal doses of Questran (Cholestyramine), meaning several times per day and a little bit more than the normal amount each time. Another thing to try is to follow the advice Aubrey has given us recently -- take the powder first thing in the morning, eat 45 or so minutes later, and then repeat these steps mid-morning. Cold water (bath or shower or even splashing some on your arms from the sink) may help, as may liberal use of a moisturizer (immediately after bathing -- I heard a dermatologist say recently that if you apply moisturizer on dry skin it is likely to make matters worse). In my experience, taking a lot of antihistamines every day made me grow " tolerant " of them, and they stopped affecting me at all. But if you are able to withdraw from them for a few days and then gradually and moderately reintroduce them, they may start working again. But Atarax is useless for me in any event; I find that benadryl and its generic equivalent is the most effective for itching. Finally, as you may have seen in postings I and other people have sent, Actigall (generic name Ursodiol) has provided some relief from itching, though as before beginning Actigall, my itching occurs in cycles of remission and recurrence (but Actigall seems to significantly smooth out these cycles and diminish itching generally). There are more serious drugs (opoid-receptor antagonists) for pruritus, but most doctors are understandably very reluctant to prescribe these. Please let us know if you find some way to alleviate the itching, and good luck (and when your itching gets really bad know that others of us are going through the same thing). Best, Ezra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2000 Report Share Posted March 21, 2000 Debbie, Are you taking Actigall/Urso? If so, try stopping it for a week and see how that affects your itching. Actigall can make it worse. You should continiue with the Cholestyramine and be sure to take it in the morning just before your first meal. And of course, consult your doctor before trying any of the above. (By the way, what is your bili-rubin count? I have noticed that my itching gets bad when my bili spikes.) Adam In a message dated 3/21/00 4:08:20 PM Pacific Standard Time, lynch@... writes: > I am absolutely out of my mind with my itching lately. I have been having > itching steady for the past 8 months with periods that have not been too hard > to handle. However, the last month has been unbearable. > > The Questran is giving me no relief. My doctor prescribed one packet a day > and I don't know if this is too little or not. Does anyone take more than > one packet a day?? After the Questran didn't work, the doctor put me on > Cipro thinking that if there was a blockage that it may be causing the > itching. My itching is worse since starting the Cipro and I have now ended > up with a flaming yeast infection. > > I went to see a homeopath who gave me licopodium but it has not provided any > relief. I have tried Aveeno, moisturizing cream, drinking tons of water.... > I don't know what else to do. I do have a prescription for Atarax which also > does not give any relief but makes me so tired that I can't function. > > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2000 Report Share Posted March 21, 2000 Debbie - I used to itch so badly, I would scratch the skin off my ankles. Since I have limited my intake of protein, my itching is almost completely gone. I don't know if there is any science to this or not but anything is worth mentioning. I will pray for you. --- J & D Lynch wrote: > Hi All, > > I am absolutely out of my mind with my itching > lately. I have been having itching steady for > the past 8 months with periods that have not > been too hard to handle. However, the last > month has been unbearable. > > The Questran is giving me no relief. My doctor > prescribed one packet a day and I don't know if > this is too little or not. Does anyone take > more than one packet a day?? After the > Questran didn't work, the doctor put me on > Cipro thinking that if there was a blockage > that it may be causing the itching. My itching > is worse since starting the Cipro and I have > now ended up with a flaming yeast infection. > > I went to see a homeopath who gave me > licopodium but it has not provided any relief. > I have tried Aveeno, moisturizing cream, > drinking tons of water.... I don't know what > else to do. I do have a prescription for > Atarax which also does not give any relief but > makes me so tired that I can't function. > > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > > Debbie > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get your bargains at AndysGarage.com! > http://click./1/2579/5/_/24674/_/953683621/ > > -- Talk to your group with your own voice! > -- > /VoiceChatPage?listName= & m=1 > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2000 Report Share Posted March 22, 2000 Hi Debbie, I just recently increased my dosage to several packet's of Questran a day and became more aware of the importance of taking it everyday (I used to only take it when I was itching real bad and I would skip days). It is still very soon to tell for sure, but I have seen a lessening of the itching. It's still there, but not near as bad. As always, I would check with your own doctor before increasing or changing the frequency of any drug or prescription. .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2000 Report Share Posted March 22, 2000 I have taken two packets of questran daily for the last couple of years. My itching at times have distrubed my sleep and has had me up all night scratching. At one time my gi informed me to increase to three packets to help relieve the itching and when it improves decrease to two packets daily. -this has helped sometimes-you should consult your doctor and see what he thinks. I have tried every medicated-over the counter lotion and the only one that provided some relief-it did not stop the itching but it helped was Extra Strenght Triple Action Gold Bond Medicated Moisturizing body lotion that can be purchased at drug and grocery stores. I'm not saying that this will completely stop but in my case it did help and provided some relief. i hope this email can be of some help to you-I know how you are feeling Re: Help Me-Itching Debbie - I used to itch so badly, I would scratch the skin off my ankles. Since I have limited my intake of protein, my itching is almost completely gone. I don't know if there is any science to this or not but anything is worth mentioning. I will pray for you. --- J & D Lynch wrote: > Hi All, > > I am absolutely out of my mind with my itching > lately. I have been having itching steady for > the past 8 months with periods that have not > been too hard to handle. However, the last > month has been unbearable. > > The Questran is giving me no relief. My doctor > prescribed one packet a day and I don't know if > this is too little or not. Does anyone take > more than one packet a day?? After the > Questran didn't work, the doctor put me on > Cipro thinking that if there was a blockage > that it may be causing the itching. My itching > is worse since starting the Cipro and I have > now ended up with a flaming yeast infection. > > I went to see a homeopath who gave me > licopodium but it has not provided any relief. > I have tried Aveeno, moisturizing cream, > drinking tons of water.... I don't know what > else to do. I do have a prescription for > Atarax which also does not give any relief but > makes me so tired that I can't function. > > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > > Debbie > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get your bargains at AndysGarage.com! > http://click./1/2579/5/_/24674/_/953683621/ > > -- Talk to your group with your own voice! > -- > /VoiceChatPage?listName= & m=1 > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2000 Report Share Posted March 22, 2000 Debbie, I certainly know what you mean about the itching; I've been there. The things that have helped me are: 1) Doxepin prescribed by my dermatologist -- 10 mg once a day at bedtime, and 2) Light treatments, again by my dermatologist. These are treatments where you stand in a light box that resembles a tanning bed standing on end w/ UV lights all around. You start at just a few seconds 2 or 3 times a week and adjust as needed for relief. These together have pretty much taken care of my itching. When I ran out of Doxepin I started itching again; when I cut down the light to only once a week I started itching again also. So, for me, I need both. I guess I'd say see a dermatologist and see what they say. Hope you get some help soon; I know how very nerve wracking it is. Peggy McG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2000 Report Share Posted March 23, 2000 Hi group, Oh yes, another thing to do for itching. I have found there are times now and then when my feet get terribly itching and when I scratch then I find that though momentarily it helps then the itching comes back plus it hurts like heck and the bout goes on. When it is bad like that and localized I find that getting an ice cube and rubbing it on will help and if I am really bad I run cold water in the bottom of the bath tub and then sit on the side with my feet in it until the itching stops. You end up with cold feet but it does shut the itching off. My first few attacks of itching back in 1990, and with months in between, were just in the feet and drove me nuts as they lasted for hours and nothing helped until I thought of the cold water. This was before I knew that the itching was caused by the liver disease and I had not even been diagnosed with PSC then. Dianne Howell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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