ITCHING - ALLERGIC REACTION TO PREDNISALONE - PMRGCAuk

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ITCHING - ALLERGIC REACTION TO PREDNISALONE

Pollynolongerinagony profile image

Itching!!!! I'm down to 9 mg pred using DSNS method. New side affect is an allergic reaction to the Pred at this level :horrific itching!! so severe I'm causing trauma to the area. I've found the solution. Cold! Take the heat out of the area. Put an ice pack wrapped in a clean tea towel on the itching area. Lower the room temperature, open windows. Put a cool fan on to reduce body temperature. Wear light cotton clothing. The itching is not in my skin, it is in my blood stream beneath the skin, so scratching the surface does not relieve the itch. It exacerbates it and spreads it further. Cooling the area gives instant relief, and stops the area breaking in to hives. When the itching becomes unbearable I take one anti histamine and that settles it for the day. The itching is worst at night so keep as cool as possible before bed. Cool cotton sheets, open window, cool water to drink. I've bought some Aveeno cream so sooth the skin I've damaged. I hope this helps anyone else who is experiencing this latest Pred side affect.

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Pollynolongerinagony profile image
Pollynolongerinagony
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8 Replies
jinasc profile image
jinasc

Have you checked it is not Hives (known side effect)?

Tip, if you are taking enteric coated, the dye in the coating can cause problems. You can simply wash it off. Too many E numbers and different manufacturers use different things - you can wash the dye off.

Pollynolongerinagony profile image
Pollynolongerinagony in reply to jinasc

THANKS 4 YR HELP WILL LOOK INTO THIS ASPECT

MUCH APPRECIATED

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

Are you sure it is the Pred you are allergic to. It seems to be an other theme I’ve noticed here that under 10mg somewhere some people get a trigger happy histamine response. I was the same under 7mg. All of a sudden I had food allergies, hay fever, sensitive skin etc. It died off over months. Some people have had to go on low histamine diets.

Pollynolongerinagony profile image
Pollynolongerinagony in reply to SnazzyD

THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ADVICE MUCH APPRECIATED

Meggsy profile image
Meggsy in reply to SnazzyD

Snazzy, it is very comforting to know it died off over months. My sensitivity began around 5mg. Have had to give up all high histamine food plus my looked forward to weekend red wine. It has helped but sometimes my skin flares for no apparent reason. I also get raised red welts from pressure. I could write my name on my arm with only slight pressure and it would appear as raised itchy red welts. I came across the term Dermatographia or skin writing. Anyway I will live in hope for its demise. 🌻

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

If the itching appears as you REDUCE the dose, it seems more likely to me to be a reaction to something else that was suppressed by higher doses of pred - which is commonly used in allergic reactions although it is possible to have an allergic reaction to pred but it is VERY rare.

I have an allergy to something in the structure of wheat starch - I can eat small amounts of wheat without payback when on higher doses of pred - not at lower ones though,

Pollynolongerinagony profile image
Pollynolongerinagony in reply to PMRpro

THANKYOU

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie

It may be what I have - histamine intolerance. There have been several posts on here over the years about it and I have come across many people who have it, it is not uncommon with autoimmune illnesses, though doctors know nowt about it. Some versions of Pred has fillers in it like sodium benzoate which are high histamine. Other people react to maize starch which is also a common filler. I'm only getting reactions now I'm back on the tablets after having been on depo-medrone injections where I didn't have the problems until th injection started to wear off and I was on a lower dose.

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