What Causes Itching

[FlippinOut]

What else besides elevated bilirubin would cause itching with liver disease? My bilirubin level is normal but I itch like crazy sometimes.

[Jen11804]

I just know it is caused by sometimes higher levels of bile salts gathering under the skin which can cause itching. I get the itching. Some days are good others I can literally tear the skin off my arms.

It’s frustrating but your doctor should be able to prescribe something if it gets too bad. I sometimes take a pill before bed if I need it because it makes me feel loopy during the day.

Best of luck to you. 😊

[Bikafella in reply to Jen11804]

I understand your pain because I'm going through the same thing. There a few things you can try. A 2% Menthol cream is very effective at cooling the skin down and can stop the itching for a few hours. There are a number of brands on the market. Your doctor may even be able to recommend a specific brand for where you live. Also, discuss with your doctor taking Cholestyremine which is a powder (comes in 2 gram sachets). This has to be dissolved for administration but it is unpleasant tasting. So to dishuise the taste you can easily dissolve it in a fruit juice. The one I've found works best for me is Apple juice and best if it's cold straight out if the refrigerator. There are other options but those are the easiest to start with. Hope they work for you

[DebbyJ1]

Hi I was allowed to take an antihistamine once a day to relieve this hope your doctor can suggest this for you

[lonmallin50]

i use to itch really bad my doctor gave me dermacool it worked for me

[Readlots]

I know ‘ the itch’ is very common with PBC, even with normal bilirubin levels. I don’t think they really know what causes it.

[Bikafella in reply to Readlots]

They do know what causes it but they don't know how to stop it.

[Readlots in reply to Bikafella]

What causes it?

[Bikafella]

Try this linkmedicalnewstoday.com/articl...

One of the contributors here had a link to a very technical medical paper where research was done on body chemistry resulting in reasons for itching. The net result (I believe) was that there's no one "antidote" to it.

[Readlots in reply to Bikafella]

Thank you, love a good research article. I’ll get my dictionary out 😊

[Bikafella]

Further our exchanges the other day, there's some interesting stuff here for you. glistentrial.com/us-en/abou...

[KateG94]

I have strictures (narrowings) in my bile ducts following liver transplant surgery in December 2022. Basically bilirubin has nowhere to go other than float around my body. The bile salts cause the itching - some days less horrendous than others but for me personally I feel everyday is crap!

Can’t begin to list what consultants have prescribed, what I’ve got over the counter and home remedies I’ve tried. Itching can be worse at night so I’m awake every couple hours. Pleading with consultant to help more as I’m either full of scratches and blood or if I cut my nails right back I just cause bruising - it can be everywhere so I’m more or less covered in sores and bruises. It’s painful and it looks an absolute mess.

Consultant prescribed me sertraline last week but it’s proved useless.. we are going to try Rifampacin but has to be monitored closely cause affects other meds I’m taking. It’s my last hope I guess.

I know it’s frustrating but keep trying everything, what doesn’t work for one person might work for another. All the best x

[FlippinOut in reply to KateG94]

So sorry you’re suffering with this. I hope you can find some relief.

[Bikafella in reply to KateG94]

Well,you can see from my previous posts you and I (and very many others) are going through the same things. My consultant prefers me to persevered with my current regime rather than try Rifampacin because of the tweaking necessary for my immunosuppression.

[normanbyrott]

I have never been diagnosed with liver disease but about 7 years ago a dermatologist told me my itching was due to a general allergy to "modern life, chemicals in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, toiletries we use, the air we breathe". There's a lot of it about apparently. So I was given anti-histamines which I still take when I am itching. It says to take them daily but one generally sorts me for 3 days. Ask if it's OK for you to take them.