Can't stop itching.

[Harrywogan]

Hi all just wondering if anyone has any tips about the itching IAM going through,IAM thinking it's because IAM down to 2 and a half mg of pred and my body doesn't like it, xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you tried antihistamines? Lidl and Aldi usually have cheap and cheerful loratidine and it is worth a try. Several people have found they itch at low doses of pred - maybe it was masking an allergy at higher doses.

[Harrywogan in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, so much will try them.

[SnazzyD]

All over?

[SheffieldJane]

I found that slathering a base cream all over was soothing. Are you on any other meds apart from Pred. ? Tramadol can cause itching

[Harrywogan in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks SJ, Could be paracetamol as I take for restless legs, will have a check. Take care Harry x

[Daffodilia]

I tried over the counter antihistamine first but needed prescription ones from gp and betnovate - use Aveeno cream now everyday to keep itching at bay - good luck

[Harrywogan in reply to Daffodilia]

Daffodilia,that's good to know.

[Pixix]

I itch, but periodically, & it goes away. Think I’ve just got used to it, tbh. Try not to think about it, hard I know. Sometimes I scratch it vigorously, can’t resist it! I take tramadol, so it could be that.

[Janet57]

I’ve had this too but it comes and goes. I try distraction technique and that works except at night when it can stop me from getting to sleep. I’ll try PMRPro’s idea and see if that works.

[Gimme]

Have you tried E45 Itch Relief cream with lauromacrogols? The lauromacrogols are not a corticosteroid and are just surfactants, which seem to be very effective. The water in the swimming pool irritates my skin and I use the Itch Relief cream and save the hydrocortisone for just the ecsema patches that I have. You can also get bath and shower gel that contain lauromacrogols. I would think those would be better if you itch all over. I don't know if they still make Balneum, but the pharmacist will be able to point you in the right direction.

Itching can be a sign of other illnesses, so maybe you could mention it to your doctor next time you speak.

[dphu]

I have bought a large ‘tub’ of aqueous cream with 6% menthol. Not sure why it works but it seems to mask the symptoms fora while.

[Gimme in reply to dphu]

Menthol has a well documented, though mostly anecdotal, role as a counter irritant and is added to a lot of the traditional rubs and embrocations. Counter-irritants supposedly confuse the pain receptors in the brain by flooding it with messages from the site of application and itching at its basic level is a kind of pain. Though there has never been a great deal of in depth study on those kind of products, as they are as old as the hills. They fell out of favour when newer, more expensive and hugely more profitable products came online (ha ha I'm no cynic). Even if we don't really know how they work, I think the old remedies still have a place, and if they work for some people and they are cheap, why ever not!

[perceptual63]

I know from experience that anemia causes itching.

It was dreadful until I received 2 iron infusions where the itching completely stopped.

[CricketMonkey]

When I had eczema (yes, I know it’s still there lurking waiting for lower doses of prednisone to wake up!), if I was particularly itchy I found that just half a Piriton (or generic equivalent Chlorphenamine Maleate) was enough to stop the itch, without making me excessively drowsy, and without the dry mouth feeling that a full tablet would induce.

[marionofnorwich]

I use an antihistamine. Seems to work

[Harrywogan in reply to marionofnorwich]

Thanks, will get some today xx