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745313 tn?1323142298

Rash after starting meds and injections

Started tx on Friday, and woke up Monday to a developing rash on my arms and legs. Did I mention ITCHY rash? (no, I don't scratch) This morning it is much heavier. I put cortisone cream on last nite, and my RN friend recommended Zyrtec since I can't take Benedryl. It's a little better - but I thought maybe someone else has experienced this and has another idea? Thanks, signed Itchy and Scratchy:)
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Avatar universal
I also have a Benedryl cream...good to have a bedside
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Avatar universal
I used Gold Bond Extra strength triple action relief.  green bottle with red top,  I also take omega 3 fish oil capsules.  To me the itching almost drove me mad.  I also pore a body oil all over my body after a quick shower and drink tons of water.  Don't drink anything with caffeine either.  
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Avatar universal
My GI suggested that I use a combination of Zyrtec and Zantac.  Zantac is actually a heartburn med but the combination of the two of them is supposed to be really good for the itching...it did help me a lot.

Keep using the Aveeno lotions of Cetaphil lotion and Aveeno oatmeal baths helped me too.  Be choosy with the types of clothing you wear...slippery materials feel much better.

Use the cortisone cream sparingly and, in fact, consider diluting it with your regular lotions.

I remember how awful the itching was...sometimes I thought I would go mad.  But then I got it under control...it didn't completely go away until after treatment ended but it was under control and something I could deal with day to day.
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1185388 tn?1264621244
I had the same thing and used the same meds. It worked off and on for me. It seems like the rash would get very active every two weeks. although it was always there. after 6 months of treatment i couldnt take it any longer and scratched until I couldnt scratch any more. Control yourself, because then my rash got in my eyes and I had to see an eye Dr. He thought it was a bug bite. Doctors really don't know everything.I should have been one
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Avatar universal
pleae get that under control and do as people say in here, we are not doctors but we have all been thru or going thru the treatment. I got the rash on my right shin and my right arm and it almost drove me insane with the ithching. I too like tippy could only take atarax (thank God for this medication) I also stopped taking hot showers and showers everyday, i take shower every other day and sometimes go for 3 days, but I am not working. i also used curel, aveeno products, cetaphil, lubriderm and added a teenie weenie bit of vaseline in it, also none of those smelly lotions, the lotiions we use cost more but are more effective. you may be able to take the benedryls (save yourself from yet another med) , but they only worked on me for 1 night, after that they kept me up all night. also keep yourself covered when you go out into the sun. I think that that's how my rash started and let me tell you the rash is almost covering my right shin still, i know i will be scared for very long time. i would rather have scar then hep c, and only have 3 more shots out of 45 and am undetectable, so hang in there and ask ask ask, somebody will have gone thru it.......................
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Avatar universal
Do not take hot showers to relieve the itchiness… it only makes it worse.  

jep
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Avatar universal
Aveeno Oatmeal baths help with itchiness and so does the Aveeno menthol cool anti itch lotion.  They do provide relief but its temporary.  Benedrly did not help me and the only pill that did help was Atarax.  Its prescription only and last for around eight hours.  It does make you drowsy so only take in the evening, unless your one of the lucky ones that doesn't work.  I doubt I could have made it through treatment without Atarax.  The itching was intense and kept me awake at night.
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Avatar universal
This is a "misery loves company" post.  I am ITCHING so bad it is about to drive me crazy. This itchiness & rash is something that has been discussed on this forum quite a bit, so you might check out some of the older posts. Benadryl is the only thing that gives me any relief (and I think that is just because if I take enough of it, it knocks me out and I sleep through some of the misery.)  I have a prescription for hydroxizine, but I don't thinks it helps as much as benadryl.  I have used some steroid cream, and my experience is that it helps the "rash", but it has to be used for several days to make a significant difference.
Like you, my itching issues started almost immediately.  I started treatment in Sept..  Took my first dose of ribavirin with supper and my first interferon shot at bedtime.  Within an hour or two of taking the riba, my skin was burning & itching.
Most of my itching now is not from a visible "rash".  I do have rash, but the worst itching occurs where there are no skin lesions.  My torso is very red, somewhat blotchy, extremely itchy, and it's all underneath the surface of skin, so topical treatments are worthless at this point.  If it doesn't get better soon, will have to get doc to give me some sort of oral steroids.
I feel for you.  I'm scratching enough for the 2 of us.
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