ITCH & IRENE ?? Doxepin creams.

[Guest guest]

HI Irene,

I'm so so sorry for what you're going through and typically a steroid (topical) is one of the best things suggested for itch. (it does sound like it's Lichen Sclerosis) and it is a steroid that's used as a first protocol... Since you mentioned the Doxepin helped but made you like a zombie, (I'm assuming you mean oral) did you know that doxepin (typically used as an antidepressant but not in this case) can be made up into a cream form for topical usage?

Also it's histamine (and other cytokines *inflammatories*) that are the 'cause' of symptoms like pain, itch, inflammation, burning, etc. and why antihistamines can help.

Here's a clip I've sent on before.... hope it helps hon

Listen to what I found out about the Doxepin...; )

Doxepin, a tricyclic compound, has been found to have 'potent' histamine receptor blocking properties.

Doxepin, is currently available in a five-percent topical cream, and has been found to be approximately 50 times more potent than hydroxyzine (Atarax) and nearly 800 times more potent than diphenhydramine as an antihistamine.

Doxepin cream has been found to control the pruritus of atopic dermatitis, eczema, and urticaria -- all histamine induced -- with results superior to the use of any 'steroid cream' or oral 'antihistamines'.

Topical doxepin provided as a five-percent cream has been shown to be extremely effective in controlling the itch caused by a number of types of dermatitis. There have been minimal side effects noted, the most prominent being a transient somnolence, (sleepiness) which decreases with continued doxepin usage. ............

PRUDOXIN Cream and ZONALON Cream are two names I'm aware of... both prescriptions tho.

Hope it helps hon.....it's got to be terrible for you, but please please 'try' to keep your hands off of it, that 'itch/scratch cycle can really be destructive to that tissue and it doesn't take long. *sigh* you might also try 'ice' bags for relief temporarily.

Dee~

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee,

Thanks so much for this info. I'll ask my doc tomorrow!

I keep wondering about this itch/scratch thing - I NEVER have

scratched down there. I know that's bad, and I have a pretty thick

skin from having IC so I can put up with a lot of % & $#!. Besides,

how would you go about scratching there when you're walking

around in clothing all day???

Irene

> HI Irene,

>

> I'm so so sorry for what you're going through and typically a

steroid (topical) is one of the best things suggested for itch. (it

does sound like it's Lichen Sclerosis) and it is a steroid that's

used as a first protocol... Since you mentioned the Doxepin

helped but made you like a zombie, (I'm assuming you mean

oral) did you know that doxepin (typically used as an

antidepressant but not in this case) can be made up into a

cream form for topical usage?

> Also it's histamine (and other cytokines *inflammatories*) that

are the 'cause' of symptoms like pain, itch, inflammation,

burning, etc. and why antihistamines can help.

>

> Here's a clip I've sent on before.... hope it helps hon

>

> Listen to what I found out about the Doxepin...; )

> Doxepin, a tricyclic compound, has been found to have 'potent'

histamine receptor blocking properties.

>

> Doxepin, is currently available in a five-percent topical cream,

and has been found to be approximately 50 times more potent

than hydroxyzine (Atarax) and nearly 800 times more potent than

diphenhydramine as an antihistamine.

> Doxepin cream has been found to control the pruritus of atopic

dermatitis, eczema, and urticaria -- all histamine induced -- with

results superior to the use of any 'steroid cream' or oral

'antihistamines'.

>

> Topical doxepin provided as a five-percent cream has been

shown to be extremely effective in controlling the itch caused by a

number of types of dermatitis. There have been minimal side

effects noted, the most prominent being a transient somnolence,

(sleepiness) which decreases with continued doxepin usage.

.............

>

> PRUDOXIN Cream and ZONALON Cream are two names I'm

aware of... both prescriptions tho.

>

> Hope it helps hon.....it's got to be terrible for you, but please

please 'try' to keep your hands off of it, that 'itch/scratch cycle can

really be destructive to that tissue and it doesn't take long. *sigh*

you might also try 'ice' bags for relief temporarily.

>

> Dee~

[Guest guest]

HI Irene, LOL

Yeah too bad we can't be like the men always scratching down there, (no way to do it ladylike, *grin*.... maybe they have penia-dynia instead of vulvodynia . LOL Although they really could have LS since males get that too.

If you seriously do have 'thick' skin down there, it just might be psoriasis of the vulva as well, usually with LS the skin becomes very thin and tears and splits easily but one can have both. *sigh* lordy would that be terrible. YOY.

Sure wishing you luck and if you do try the doxepin creams I hope it works. I"m sure you've probably answered this so forgive me but have you had a biopsy? I just received a letter in from a gal who suffered for 18 yrs with the wrong meds and not the proper diagnosis and finally was diagnosed with seborrheic vulvitis, by Dr. Gordon of Arizona (many of us know that name) so it's just a thought about having the biopsy.

Dee

[Guest guest]

Dee - I live in Phoenix and Dr. Gordon is the doc I'm

seeing, so I assume I'm in good hands. He has walls full of

credentials, and he's a very nice man to boot. So now I'm really

worried if he's not finding something to treat me with since he's

such a big shot.

He did a biopsy on my first visit - did that ever hurt. It came back

with no abnormalities and just showed " irritation. " He doesn't

think it's lichen slcerosis, and there is thickening where it itches,

not thinning. He says the itch pattern is totally consistent with the

location of the sweat glands.

I'm not aware of sweating down there, but he says we're

sweating there all the time. His dx is sqamous hyperplasia, as I

think we wrote to each other about before.

I'll be eager to see what he suggests tomorrow.

Irene

-- In VulvarDisorders , " DTroll " <dtroll@c...>

wrote:

> HI Irene, LOL

>

> Yeah too bad we can't be like the men always scratching down

there, (no way to do it ladylike, *grin*.... maybe they have

penia-dynia instead of vulvodynia . LOL Although they really could

have LS since males get that too.

> If you seriously do have 'thick' skin down there, it just might be

psoriasis of the vulva as well, usually with LS the skin becomes

very thin and tears and splits easily but one can have both.

*sigh* lordy would that be terrible. YOY.

>

> Sure wishing you luck and if you do try the doxepin creams I

hope it works. I " m sure you've probably answered this so forgive

me but have you had a biopsy? I just received a letter in from a

gal who suffered for 18 yrs with the wrong meds and not the

proper diagnosis and finally was diagnosed with seborrheic

vulvitis, by Dr. Gordon of Arizona (many of us know that

name) so it's just a thought about having the biopsy.

> Dee

[Guest guest]

what other symptoms do these have? deb

> think it's lichen slcerosis,

His dx is sqamous hyperplasia,