Itch

[Shirleygreen]

Thank you so much for all your answers to my question regarding the dreaded itch. I went to drs yesterday and she prescribed questran. I took one sachet yesterday and hate to say it but it caused constipation. Has anyone else had that problem?

[seventhchild]

I have used questran a couple of times but there was a side effect I did not care for the best that I have been given for itching was from Mayo clinic its called naltrexone. and yes I had the same problem with questran.

[Shirleygreen in reply to seventhchild]

Hi thanks for reply. I only took the questran once and then asked my GP for the light version but up to now haven't tried that even - bit wary! But funnily enough and as advised in quite a few of my replies, I have been trying to drink as much water as I can. Maybe its the water or just a coincidence but it has eased off quite a bit but I still get a tingly feeling around face and chin area so just keep drinking. Early days yet but you never know!

[Shirleygreen in reply to seventhchild]

hi back again! How does this naltrexone work? Does it have any side effects and can you get it from GP? Just in case water does not work.

[Magnolia]

Shirley, the Cholestyramine is causing me constipation too. My Dr. said I could use 3 pks a day, but I dare not for this reason..I'm going to drink more water than usual and see if it will help. I have actually used it since last year and this has just started.

Magnolia

[Shirleygreen in reply to Magnolia]

Hi thanks for reply. I only took the questran once and then asked my GP for the light version but up to now have not tried that even - bit wary! But funnily enough and as advised in quite a few of the replies to my question, I had started to drink as much water as I could. Maybe its the water or just a coincidence but it has eased off quite a bit but I still get a tingly stinging sensation around my chin and face so I just keep drinking. Early days yet but you never know!

[zipitydoo]

Hi Shirley,

I was just wondering if you had continued with the Questran? The constipation might have been due to something else after taking just one sachet.

I have been on it since Jan and so far have had no problems,but we are all different. It does seem to help with my itching but dosent take it away completely.

[Shirleygreen in reply to zipitydoo]

Hi thanks for reply. I only took the questran once and then asked my GP for the light version but up to now have not tried that even - bit wary! But funnily enough and as advised in quite a few of the replies to my question, I had started to drink as much water as I could. Maybe its the water or just a coincidence but it has eased off quite a bit but I still get a tingly stinging sensation around my chin and face area as though it is going to start itching but then I just go and drink more water. Early days yet but you never know!

[littlemo]

Hi Shirley just reading ur comment and zipitydoos re constipation I have always tried to drink lots of water every day, at least one litre if not two since I was first diagnosed with pbc. I feel this in general is good for helping rid the body of toxins in out case the bile/ bile chemicals and is specially good to do when taking meds that can cause constipation and also good for anyone taking laxatives as the fluid helps movement of food etc through the intestines( bowels). I suppose that is what has helped the questran work fairly well for me until recently. Hope this advise helps others too.

[Shirleygreen in reply to littlemo]

Hi thanks for reply. I only took the questran once and then asked my GP for the light version but up to now have not tried even than - bit wary! But funnily enough and as advised in quite a few of the replies to my question, I had started to drink as much water as I could. Maybe its the water or just a coincidence, but it has eased off quite a bit but I still get a tingly stinging sensation around my chin and face area as though it is going to start itching but then I just go and drink more water. Early days yet but you never know! What do you mean in your last sentence "worked fairly well for me until recently"?

[Pat_H]

Hi Shirleygreen

When I was first prescribed Questran my problem was the opposite of constipation. However, I am a vegetarian and I've always been very "regular".

When I began taking 3 sachets of Questran a day, I had constipation for the very first time in my life - and I didn't like it. I'd never realised before how painful it is and how awful it makes you feel. I dropped back down to 2 sachets of Questran a day, then began introducing a third sachet every three days, then every two days, and now I'm taking three sachets a day without any constipation problems.

What I'm not certain about is whether it stops the itching! I still itch a lot in the late afternoon and evening, but I'm loathe to stop taking Questran, in case it turns out I'd be itching even more without it and I've got to go through the whole process of getting up to the right dose again!

Pat_H