Itchy skin...

[Jo-hannah]

Hi friends, I am on bisoprolol 2.5 once a day and 20mg of xarelto once a day for PAF since Dec 2016 and all was well for a few weeks, then I developed itchy skin, first on soles of feet and palms and then all over...GP prescribed cetrine and I take it and manage up to72 hours symptom free but the itch always returns and so I take another cetrine... am concerned that the cetrine is just masking a problem....am due to see GP on Wed but would very much appreciate your views on it.....am also going to ask the GP to refer me over to an EP at my local hospital (am with a cardio at present)... I am learning so much from you guys and thanks so much to you all.....

[CaroleF]

Oh no. Itchy skin. Drives you mad, doesn't it? I've had the palms and soles thing but years ago and nothing to do with AF or medications for that so I'm just commiserating with you here.

Have you had a look at the leaflet that comes with the anticoagulant (xarelto/rivaroaiban) to see if itching is a known side effect? I have recently started to take Apixaban and 'skin rash and itching' are mentioned as an uncommon side effect. 'Skin rash with pink-red blotches especially on the palms of hands and soles of feet which may blister' are mentioned as a rare side effect.

So .... it sounds as if your problem might be a side effect? Maybe a chat with your pharmacist about this might be a good idea (as well as your GP) as I find mine much more clued up than the GP about prescription drugs and all things related to them.

I do hope you get the problem sorted and if it's a side effect of xarelto, maybe a different anticoagulant would be the answer?

[Jo-hannah in reply to CaroleF]

Hello CaroleF, that's a good idea....I had not thought of asking the pharmacist and you are so right about them being more clued up than the GPs.....I will let you know how I get on.....thanks a million for your reply.....fond wishes, Johannah.

[CaroleF in reply to Jo-hannah]

Yes. Do let me/us know how you get on, Johanna, and I hope the pharmacist proves helpful. Mine is 'my new best friend'! Quite apart from anything else I can pretty much see him within a few minutes of walking in the shop (not in 3 weeks' time, unless an emergency) and he will take as long as needed (not just 10 mins) to talk things through.

I 'know nada', but it does sound to me as if the cetrine is just masking the problem, whereas you don't want the problem in the first place and a different anticoagulant might be the answer. In my limited experience of GPs they just don't seem to think that way.

All the best,

Carole

PS Apologies for typo/misspelling of rivaroxaban in my first message.

[Jo-hannah]

Thanks again Carole, will keep you posted.....

[Goldfish_]

I just looked up the numbers and it's about 1% for rivaroxaban and 2% for bisoprolol who get itch. So may try changing one of these at a time to see if you can identify a culprit

[Jo-hannah]

Thank you very much Goldfish...that's useful info and I appreciate it....will put that to GP on Wed.

[johnMiosh]

I developed an itch the day after I started rivaroxaban, mainly on the inside of my elbows and neck. It wasn't severe, so I put up with it. The effects faded after a couple of weeks.