Itching and pimples with Pegasys / Copegus Hepatitis C therapy

Hello. I've been taking Pegasys with Copegus for eight weeks now. My skin itching and pimples are getting worse, and cover large areas of my body and arms, and some of my legs. I most recently tried hydrocortisone topically, which doesn't do much for relieving the itch. I tried applying vitamin E to the skin, and corn starch. Nothing has much effect, though a little. What else can I try for the itching? And, what do I do about the pimples, which are increasing in number (I'm worried that people at my gym will think I have an infection when they see me in the shower. Thank you.

[desert woman]

Look way down the page here to 2/17/05.  There is a post on 'ITCHING'.  Some good suggestions there.

[desert woman]

Some more ideas:  I had problems with itchy skin on my arms for years.  Dermatologists would prescribe creams that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.  Finally I found a dermatologist who told me not to wash my arms every day, not to use fabric softener (fabric softener sheets seem to be okay), and to switch to a fragrance-free detergent.  This did the trick for me.  I hope you find something that works for you.

[twotells]

I remember the terrible itching and rash patches and still get some at 4 1/2 months post tx.  I tried alot of things with no success, including hydocortisone cream and ointments.  Finally, my family dr gave me a script for something called mometasone furoate ointment, 0.1%.  This worked very well after only a couple of applications, although the rash would return in a couple of weeks.  He said that although it is a corticosteroid, it is probably 10x as strong as hydrocortisone.  Since I only needed it periodically rather than regularly, he didnt see a problem with continued use.  You might want to talk to your dr about this if nothing milder works.  Dave

[Astrolady]

I started getting little pimples and bumps on my upper arms and the back of my shoulders after the first month or two of tx also.  It has been embarrassing, I'm peri-menopausal so I'm hot all the time I used to wear sleeveless clothes at work.  I did find something that really helps though; while I

[DebbieDo]

Aveno for itching and get some Aveno lotion.  Try and bathe everyother day if you can stand it. Use mild detergent in the wash, like Dreft.  Don't scratch , you dont want to cause an infection.  Drink lots of water......
Get a humidifer to put some moisture in the air.....
OR ask your GI for a prescription to help the itching......
The sides are tough to deal with at times.......
               Debbie

[cuteus]

I took Atarax, and used urea based lotions  to moisturize my skin.

[cccoff]

OH my god!! I was on onkly interfuron therapy 3 to 4 shots a week depending on my blood work and success..This has been way back in 1995 to end of 1996...I had Geno type 2 Hep C..I too had bad rashes..I was at first put in steriods which made me more nutzz and I copuld not sleep..Clobetasol helped along with low suds detergent Olay body wash and luke warm showers..My rash was bad on my upper thigh, pealing skin off in like sheets..I am still scarred to this day..Doctors were baffled and said it looks like psoriasis..The hydrocortisone along with the clobetasol and a whole lot of scratching helped..My end result of the rashes is that I have them on my hands and have to constantly take care of them..My hep c is gone..It is now 2005 and I have ZERO viral load in my system..My husband whom has artificial heart valve is in hospital as I write..He just took his first injection to start treatment..Now I am to understand they give you Riboviron..This scares me it messes with your heart as I am told..Do not understand it if anyone can please explain who is on it or been through it ,,Thx cccoff
OH YEAH STAY WITH IT ITS WORTH IT

[Oreos]

I finished 48/48 almost 5 mos ago and can TOTALLY relate to the itching and rashes.  I used a ton of non-perfumed moisturizers and hydrocortisone creams.  Have you tried antihistamines?  Interferon can cause allergy-like symptoms.  Check with your Dr. about antihistmines and STAY WITH IT!  It will get better : )

[MickeyS]

The ribavarin can cause anemia (it has with me) by destroying some red blood cells (HGB). At he same time, the interferon interferes with the bone marrow's replacing the red blood cells. So the body is getting less oxygen, which the red blood cells carry, and that causes the heart to beat faster. Your husband's doctor can tell him if this is a risk for him. From what I understand, if your heart and lungs are good, then you just get out-of breath climbing stairs and over-exerting yourself. I myself continue to do weights and the treadmill at the gym, but have cut down on the speed and the weights, and I sit down between exercises.
   I understand, also, that the anemia usually hits its peak in eight weeks. I hope so, because my HGB is at 9.1 (10 is the anemia line, and 14.5 is the low end to normal),
and my doctor wants to see another blood test next week (which would be at week
8 1/2 for me. Good luck.

   Also: Thanks to everyone for their replies to my post!

[MickeyS]

I considered the topical antihistamine, Benadryl, but the container said not to apply it to large areas of the body, which I have the itching and pimples on.
   My doctor did prescribe the internal Claritin, saying my condition looked like an allergic reaction, but I was suspicious of taking it. Thank you.