Itchy itching itchiness!

[sanguine_emma]

Hi all,

Here's a random question: I am often plaged with all-over itching, especially at night, although it's happening right now (which is what brought it to mind). I feel like I have an itch in my leg (for example) but when I go to scratch it, it isn't where I think it is and I can't get to it at all. I chase it around for a bit, then it appears in my arm or my torso or my foot. It's intense enough to drive you mad, but you can't actually pin it down and scratch it. Keeps me awake for ages. I was wondering whether this was something to do with the whole chronic pain/FM thing. As I understand it, my nerves are stuck in 'feedback' mode, is it likely this could be interpreted as 'itch' instead of the more usual 'pain'? One of the more annoying things is that scratching is actually really painful (anyone else find they can induce pain by the simple act of scratching an itch?), but it's really hard to lie there and ignore it, even if you know scratching won't help you just have to do it anyway!

Emma

[Retro]

Hi Emma,

I can relate to the painful scratching and all over night-time itchiness. I take anti-histimines which do help with my itching so mine must be an allergic reaction, haven't got the faintest idea what to. I have been diagnosed with FM and do find that even gentle scratching certain bits hurts like pressing on a bad bruise.

Sorry, no advice, but I do know how it feels.

Take care

Lindsey

[Sandy L]

Pain medicines may cause itching without an allergic mechanism. It is a direct effect of stimulating mu opioid receptors. Might that be the source of trouble?

[cocol]

Oh I get that a lot... even when I'm not on any meds though...

[Nightshadow]

Hey...I have been getting this "invisible itch" for as loooooooooong as I can remember, even before I was put on meds...and they have tested my neurological stuff and say its normal...I know its not much of an answer but thought I would share my 2 cents

[nonyanomemory]

Both daughter and I get a lot of itching, whether on meds or not. Not related to excema etc.. we both experience itching around knees in the muscles etc after muscle spasms or just before flare of pain, this applies to other places too. Drives me mad sometimes but not too bothered about the cause, tis odd that we both get it though!

nonya

[Princess_Sarah]

Yup I get the itching too - all over and its really really annoying and it really hurts me too. I hate to scratch but I have to and then when I do it hurts so I cant win. Know exactly how you feel anyway - I've took piriton a few times and that did nothing so its certainly not anything I'm allergic to for me

[Retro]

Yup I get the itching too - all over and its really really annoying and it really hurts me too. I hate to scratch but I have to and then when I do it hurts so I cant win. Know exactly how you feel anyway - I've took piriton a few times and that did nothing so its certainly not anything I'm allergic to for me

Not necessarily it may be that piriton isn't the right anti-histimine for it

Lindsey

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Lindsey,

Thats interesting as I am allergic to piriton big time - why wouldn't piriton be the right one and have you a suggestion which would be, please. nonya

[sanguine_emma]

Wow - so many itchy people in one place! Itching seems to be unrelated to meds for me too, but now I come to think of it, it is rather like you describe nonya, around knees, elbows and all up spine.

Now, I'm in danger of venturing out of my field here, but as I understand it, the new types of antihistamines tend to be more specific for the allergy and have fewer side effects. The allergic response causes the release of histamine. Histamine makes you itch, and scratching increases irritation, which increases histamine - vicious circle time. Piriton is a scattergun approach, it sorts out the histamine in the allergy, but it also stops histamine from doing its day job, for example in the brain - making you feel a bit dopey. Newer (and more expensive) antihistamines only target the histamine in the allergy, although I don't really know how they do this. I'm sure sandyL will come along and sort me out.

I'm not allergic to anything, as far as I know - except cats, and I haven't got any. Fortunate really, as I don't seem to need any encouragement to get itchy

[nonyanomemory]

i agree emma - SandyL - where are you when we need you and have we asked you if you are ok this evening nonya

[Fiona-Jane]

another itchy person here!!

i hate it, i get the itch mainly on my legs and face and it feels like its inside my leg. like, actually under all the layers of skin. sometimes it feels like there are loads of tiny insects crawling under my skin. and its sooo frustrating when you scratch and the itch doesnt go away! lotions and creams dont help either.

i take an antihistamine tablet which seems to work a little. my doctor just told me that its probably that restless leg syndrome and as its not bothering me that much at the moment just try to ignore it. i also find that eating bread triggers it, so i try to avoid bread! also bathing my legs in cool water seems to temporaily ease it a little.

fi xx

[Fiona-Jane]

i've also found that zirtec is more effective than piriton, and zirtec is non-drowsy. piriton puts me in such a deep sleep that i look like i'm in a coma! LOL!

[Sandy L]

I had never heard of Piriton--turns out it contains chlorpheniramie maleate, which is sold here as Chlortrimeton. That is one of the older antihistamines (I remember encountering it in the early '50s) and for years was my favorite, balancing effectiveness against excessive sedation. I usually used the 8- or 12-hour forms, getting better relief with a lot less sedation.

Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride) is a close cousin of hydroxyzine (sold as the tranquilizers Vistaril and Atarax) Hydroxyzine has been regarded as one of the better drugs for hives (urticaria) for some time. Zyrtec seems especially good for that, but has become my current favorite for effectiveness with less sedation than Chlortrimeton. Zyrtec does cause unpleasant sedation in a few people. If that becomes a problem, fexofenadine hydrochloride (Allegra) is very effective and is practically guaranteed to have no sedation at all. Claritin (loratidine) is usually not very effective at usually-prescribed doses.

Another oldie is no longer available in the US. Pyribenzamine (tripellenamine, aka PBZ) caused a lot of sedation--worse than diphenhydramine (Benadryl)--but also worked better than about anything else around. In a sustained-release form, I could use it without becoming a zombie.

For those who have responded, the direct effect on mu receptors does not seem to be the problem, so one of the antihistamines would be a worthwhile place to start.

If things get desparate, you might ask your doctor about a trial of:
Leukotriene blockers such as montelukast (Singulair®), zafirlukast (Accolate®), or a leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, zyleuton (Zyflo®). These act against leukotrienes, which were once known as long-acting substance of anaphylaxis. They are moderately expensive (Accolate about 60% of the monthly cost of Singulair arund here) and would not be a good first line of defense, but might help in the overall scheme.

[Princess_Sarah]

Yup I get the itching too - all over and its really really annoying and it really hurts me too. I hate to scratch but I have to and then when I do it hurts so I cant win. Know exactly how you feel anyway - I've took piriton a few times and that did nothing so its certainly not anything I'm allergic to for me

Not necessarily it may be that piriton isn't the right anti-histimine for it

Lindsey

I havent just tried piriton I've had a lot of anti-histimines and none of them work - ever. I'm not too bothered about the itching anyway its the pain just thought I'd contribute in the topic