Guest guest Posted May 5, 2001 Report Share Posted May 5, 2001 Ditto to all the comments below. After 2 1/2 years of caring for a child with this problem, I would agree with most everything Barry stated. I too am in the health care field but on this list I try to keep my role as strictly " Mommy " . The only exception I would have to Barry's comments is regarding Atarax. Kristi's doc has recommended daily Atarax, symptoms or not. We are weaning down from Medrol and would like to get off of it permenantly. If that means taking Atarax daily then so be it. Also, Kristi experiences side effect of extreme GROUCHINESS if Atarax taken sporadically. Sharon PS Barry All caps in e-mail means SHOUTING. YOur message came through loud and clear. : ) >From: BaBaa14@... >IT'S CALLED CELESTONE > >GET AN IM SHOT AND YOU'LL BE FINE FOR COUPLE DAYS >ONLY THING IS WITH ONE SHOT YOU MAY REBOUND AND HAVE PRETTY BAD CASE OF >URTICARIA THE THIRD DAY > >12MG PERFECT DOSE > >I DONT KNOW HOW SEVERE YOUR URT IS >YOU MAY GET AWAY WITH SMALL DOSE LIKE 10 OR 20 MG PREDNISONE >WITH YOUR HYDROXYZINE MAY KNOCK IT ALL OUT FOR THAT EVENING AND NIGHT > >HYDROXYZINE IS BETTER THAN ZYRTEC FOR THAT ATARAX/VISTARIL 'S MECHANISM OF >ACTION IS THAT ATARAX WORKS ON THE " SKIN " AND IT LASTS FOR DAYS > >YOU CAN TAKE IT WHENEVER WHEN IT BECOMES THERAPEUTIC IT'S NOT A SCHEDULED >THING ONCE IN YOUR SYSTEM > >YOU CAN TAKE UP TO 400MG/DAY >HIGH DOSE THOUGH >CLARITIN /ALLEGRA IS LIKEPISSING IN THE WIND >ADEQUATE URT CONTROL IS ZYRTEC OR HYDROXYZINE >AND DOXEPIN OR DOUBLE DAILY DOSAGE HYDROXYZINE AT NIGHT >THE DOUBLE COMBO CRAP WITH ZANTAC IS NOT ALL AS EFFECTIVE AS THE HYPE OF IT >YOU NEED TO STAY ON AS MINIMAL MEDS AS YOU CAN >AND THERE ISNT MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS H2 RECEPTOR INHIBITOR > >SO IF YOU CAN DROP THE CLARITIN /ALLEGRA/ZANTAC >STICK WITH AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE >BUT ALWAYS HAVE BACK UP >GOOD LUCK >BARRY _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2001 Report Share Posted May 5, 2001 Ditto to all the comments below. After 2 1/2 years of caring for a child with this problem, I would agree with most everything Barry stated. I too am in the health care field but on this list I try to keep my role as strictly " Mommy " . The only exception I would have to Barry's comments is regarding Atarax. Kristi's doc has recommended daily Atarax, symptoms or not. We are weaning down from Medrol and would like to get off of it permenantly. If that means taking Atarax daily then so be it. Also, Kristi experiences side effect of extreme GROUCHINESS if Atarax taken sporadically. Sharon PS Barry All caps in e-mail means SHOUTING. YOur message came through loud and clear. : ) >From: BaBaa14@... >IT'S CALLED CELESTONE > >GET AN IM SHOT AND YOU'LL BE FINE FOR COUPLE DAYS >ONLY THING IS WITH ONE SHOT YOU MAY REBOUND AND HAVE PRETTY BAD CASE OF >URTICARIA THE THIRD DAY > >12MG PERFECT DOSE > >I DONT KNOW HOW SEVERE YOUR URT IS >YOU MAY GET AWAY WITH SMALL DOSE LIKE 10 OR 20 MG PREDNISONE >WITH YOUR HYDROXYZINE MAY KNOCK IT ALL OUT FOR THAT EVENING AND NIGHT > >HYDROXYZINE IS BETTER THAN ZYRTEC FOR THAT ATARAX/VISTARIL 'S MECHANISM OF >ACTION IS THAT ATARAX WORKS ON THE " SKIN " AND IT LASTS FOR DAYS > >YOU CAN TAKE IT WHENEVER WHEN IT BECOMES THERAPEUTIC IT'S NOT A SCHEDULED >THING ONCE IN YOUR SYSTEM > >YOU CAN TAKE UP TO 400MG/DAY >HIGH DOSE THOUGH >CLARITIN /ALLEGRA IS LIKEPISSING IN THE WIND >ADEQUATE URT CONTROL IS ZYRTEC OR HYDROXYZINE >AND DOXEPIN OR DOUBLE DAILY DOSAGE HYDROXYZINE AT NIGHT >THE DOUBLE COMBO CRAP WITH ZANTAC IS NOT ALL AS EFFECTIVE AS THE HYPE OF IT >YOU NEED TO STAY ON AS MINIMAL MEDS AS YOU CAN >AND THERE ISNT MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS H2 RECEPTOR INHIBITOR > >SO IF YOU CAN DROP THE CLARITIN /ALLEGRA/ZANTAC >STICK WITH AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE >BUT ALWAYS HAVE BACK UP >GOOD LUCK >BARRY _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2001 Report Share Posted May 6, 2001 Sharon, I am 31 years old and have suffered from cu since I was 9. I have never had a remission, except they were better when I was pregnant. I was on Atarax pretty much from day one of the hives. 25 mg for several years, but as I got older I had to increase the dosage. I have never, never been given Pred for the CU. Had it once for allergic reaction to a medication, but did not have hives and had it a second time to clear up fluid in my ears that would not go away. I hope the Atarax works. I had lots of luck with it for years. Unfortunately, after my pregnancy it stopped working. I wish I could still take it rather than this cocktail of meds I now have to take. I never worried when I was on Atarax. It is an old antihistamine and I have been told one of the safest ones around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 Hi What meds did you say your taking now? I agree with you about the safety of Atarax. Unfortunately, Kristi really gets little relief from it even though she's been on as much as 150 mg a day in the past. That was prescribed by her regular pediatrician when the CU first started. She had what remains her worst episode ever in 1998 when this first started and ended up in the hospital for 3 days. Atarax does seem to help with the itching but doesn't really seem to prevent them. Although I do have to say she's never had an episode as bad as the first one. The specialist she now sees in Iowa City prescribes the maximum amt recommended for her current weight, which is 100mg daily. She should be off the medrol soon. Her next appt is May 22. I'm not sure if he'll cut the dose in half again (from 8 to 4mg every other day) or taper off yet. We'll see. I'm sorry to hear you've had this problem for such a long time. Do you have hives all the time? I hope not. Sharon >From: L95@... >Reply-To: urticaria >To: urticaria >Subject: Re: HEY CHRIS >Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 23:06:28 EDT > >Sharon, > >I am 31 years old and have suffered from cu since I was 9. I have never had >a >remission, except they were better when I was pregnant. I was on Atarax >pretty much from day one of the hives. 25 mg for several years, but as I >got >older I had to increase the dosage. I have never, never been given Pred for >the CU. Had it once for allergic reaction to a medication, but did not have >hives and had it a second time to clear up fluid in my ears that would not >go >away. I hope the Atarax works. I had lots of luck with it for years. >Unfortunately, after my pregnancy it stopped working. I wish I could still >take it rather than this cocktail of meds I now have to take. I never >worried >when I was on Atarax. It is an old antihistamine and I have been told one >of >the safest ones around. > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 Hi What meds did you say your taking now? I agree with you about the safety of Atarax. Unfortunately, Kristi really gets little relief from it even though she's been on as much as 150 mg a day in the past. That was prescribed by her regular pediatrician when the CU first started. She had what remains her worst episode ever in 1998 when this first started and ended up in the hospital for 3 days. Atarax does seem to help with the itching but doesn't really seem to prevent them. Although I do have to say she's never had an episode as bad as the first one. The specialist she now sees in Iowa City prescribes the maximum amt recommended for her current weight, which is 100mg daily. She should be off the medrol soon. Her next appt is May 22. I'm not sure if he'll cut the dose in half again (from 8 to 4mg every other day) or taper off yet. We'll see. I'm sorry to hear you've had this problem for such a long time. Do you have hives all the time? I hope not. Sharon >From: L95@... >Reply-To: urticaria >To: urticaria >Subject: Re: HEY CHRIS >Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 23:06:28 EDT > >Sharon, > >I am 31 years old and have suffered from cu since I was 9. I have never had >a >remission, except they were better when I was pregnant. I was on Atarax >pretty much from day one of the hives. 25 mg for several years, but as I >got >older I had to increase the dosage. I have never, never been given Pred for >the CU. Had it once for allergic reaction to a medication, but did not have >hives and had it a second time to clear up fluid in my ears that would not >go >away. I hope the Atarax works. I had lots of luck with it for years. >Unfortunately, after my pregnancy it stopped working. I wish I could still >take it rather than this cocktail of meds I now have to take. I never >worried >when I was on Atarax. It is an old antihistamine and I have been told one >of >the safest ones around. > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 Hi What meds did you say your taking now? I agree with you about the safety of Atarax. Unfortunately, Kristi really gets little relief from it even though she's been on as much as 150 mg a day in the past. That was prescribed by her regular pediatrician when the CU first started. She had what remains her worst episode ever in 1998 when this first started and ended up in the hospital for 3 days. Atarax does seem to help with the itching but doesn't really seem to prevent them. Although I do have to say she's never had an episode as bad as the first one. The specialist she now sees in Iowa City prescribes the maximum amt recommended for her current weight, which is 100mg daily. She should be off the medrol soon. Her next appt is May 22. I'm not sure if he'll cut the dose in half again (from 8 to 4mg every other day) or taper off yet. We'll see. I'm sorry to hear you've had this problem for such a long time. Do you have hives all the time? I hope not. Sharon >From: L95@... >Reply-To: urticaria >To: urticaria >Subject: Re: HEY CHRIS >Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 23:06:28 EDT > >Sharon, > >I am 31 years old and have suffered from cu since I was 9. I have never had >a >remission, except they were better when I was pregnant. I was on Atarax >pretty much from day one of the hives. 25 mg for several years, but as I >got >older I had to increase the dosage. I have never, never been given Pred for >the CU. Had it once for allergic reaction to a medication, but did not have >hives and had it a second time to clear up fluid in my ears that would not >go >away. I hope the Atarax works. I had lots of luck with it for years. >Unfortunately, after my pregnancy it stopped working. I wish I could still >take it rather than this cocktail of meds I now have to take. I never >worried >when I was on Atarax. It is an old antihistamine and I have been told one >of >the safest ones around. > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2001 Report Share Posted May 9, 2001 Sharon, I have hives all the time IF I don't take my medication. I cannot be off medication. I tried for 3 days so they could do allergy testing, but I couldn't make it( I was one big hive and was going out of my mind). Right now, I am on Zyrtec/Zantac in am, Claritin/Zantac around 5pm and then 25 mg Doxepin w/10 mg of Singulair at night. I don't think the Singulair is working at all. I go back to the allergist next week. This combo seems to be working well, except I always wake up with hives and itch for a couple of hours until the Zyrtec/Zantac kick in. I will see about taking that combo twice daily and eliminating the others, but I am pretty sure the insurance will not pay for that and not sure doctor will allow. Hope you daughter eventually finds some relief. I always identify w/the girls around 9 or 10 years old because mine started at 9. I thought I was the only one out there. I have had a good life so far in spite of the hives. To me it has always just been a part of my life and who I am. Believe me not a day goes by that I don't wish I could be " normal " . If you daughter is anything like me, she will have a normal life in spite of the damn hives, but will probably be on meds. I hope she gets off the Medrol. Can't they add Claritin or something to the Atarax? If you daughter ever feels discouraged, feel free to get in touch with me directly on my e mail. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2001 Report Share Posted May 9, 2001 Sharon, I have hives all the time IF I don't take my medication. I cannot be off medication. I tried for 3 days so they could do allergy testing, but I couldn't make it( I was one big hive and was going out of my mind). Right now, I am on Zyrtec/Zantac in am, Claritin/Zantac around 5pm and then 25 mg Doxepin w/10 mg of Singulair at night. I don't think the Singulair is working at all. I go back to the allergist next week. This combo seems to be working well, except I always wake up with hives and itch for a couple of hours until the Zyrtec/Zantac kick in. I will see about taking that combo twice daily and eliminating the others, but I am pretty sure the insurance will not pay for that and not sure doctor will allow. Hope you daughter eventually finds some relief. I always identify w/the girls around 9 or 10 years old because mine started at 9. I thought I was the only one out there. I have had a good life so far in spite of the hives. To me it has always just been a part of my life and who I am. Believe me not a day goes by that I don't wish I could be " normal " . If you daughter is anything like me, she will have a normal life in spite of the damn hives, but will probably be on meds. I hope she gets off the Medrol. Can't they add Claritin or something to the Atarax? If you daughter ever feels discouraged, feel free to get in touch with me directly on my e mail. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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