Nightime itching

Hi,
I have had nighttime itching that began two nights ago. I began bio-identical hormone treatment two weeks ago.  My doctor and compounding phamarcist have me on the following regimen...Bio-estrogen/testosterone cream .3mg/5mg, DHEA capsule 1 x day, Cortisol pellets(Isocort) taking 3 in the a.m., 2 at noon, and 1 at 4 pm, Vitamin D taking 50,000 IU twice a week for 8 wks then down to once per week, Vitamin BComplex 1 x day, Vitamin C 1 x day, and the herb called Ashwagandha in capsule form once in the a.m. and again at 2 or 3 pm, and a progesterone capsule at night. I also take .25 mg of Klonopin, and 10 mg Amitriptyline with the progesterone. I wake up to use the bathroom and feel itchy, the kind of itchy that I could scratch with a hairbrush or bristle pad! Im not sure what is causing it. The only thing I have since the time I started itching was the Vitamin BComplex, Vitamin C, and Ashwagandha herb. I want to think it might be from the herb but dont know if anything else I am may have just taken a little while to build up in my system and is now causing itching or if its from the new things I added. Any suggestions?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These symptoms can be due to allergic reaction to the herbs or due to scabies. It is an infestation of the skin with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

I hope it helps. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.