side effect

[shocked60]

are the side effects any less if your viral load is low and minimal damage? I have been having anxiety problems over this and wake up shaking. I am now on anxiety meds and zoloft to even me out before I start meds in 4 days. I can't seem to get over fearing the worst

[lisa108]

thank you for your positive message !!

[Advocate1955]

My husband had the moderate rash with Incivek, but there were times it seemed to be bordering on severe.  He took Hydroxyzine and used Triamcinolone ointment.  He used Eucerin body wash in the shower, took cooler showers, patted his skin dry, used Eucerin moisturizer on his skin after the shower, sometimes stood in front of the open freezer door, sometimes stood outside in the cool night air, and sometimes we put tea tree oil on the little blisters that formed (there were a few on his back).
Good luck with the rash.

[pooh55811]

If you need the cream, then what are they complaining about. The pharmacy should not be complaining. That is not their job. They are not diagnosing your problem or ordering your treatment. They are filling a prescription.

A person is not supposed to pile it on, but sometimes a person has no choice. Most drug induced rashes will go away after the drug is stopped. But we have to take these meds or we will likely fail treatment. The drug that is causing the rash is still in our system. So, we have to control that rash or be taken off treatment.

To put it in perspective, one guy here was using a pound of steroid cream a week and was getting it in jars. He had to go off Tx. The rash eventually cleared but it took weeks.
The goal here is to get the rash under control so a person can continue Tx. There is no point in using so little cream that the rash continues to spread.
At 5'10" you probably need a lot. I am 5'7" and the tubes I get are big tubes.

The Fluocinonide did help me and eventually the rash would clear . However, it was the Hydroxyzine 50 mg every 6 hours that actually got it under control.

My experience with Tx over the past year has left me very annoyed with the incompetence of docs and other staff, especially when it comes to side effects, and it has transformed me into a very informed and assertive person as far as medical care is concerned.

[shocked60]

Checked the Incivek site and I would say I am moderate. Thank you. Great help. Also checked the last pics yo sent and that is about what I look like. I believe my legs have more, but my injection sites a the size of a golfball and red from 3 weeks ago. I am seeing a derm. He said it was not SJS. My Pharmecy complained I had used too much clobtasol cream. I am 5'10. How long can a tube last when you have it everywhere? So I backed of a little and that is when I seemed to get worse. Mostly my neck and face seemed to be on fire today. Thanks Pooh!

[pooh55811]

Neither Claritan nor Zyrtec did anything for my rash and/or itching. I may as well have been taking M&Ms. I know they help some people, but they won't help any of us who have/had rashes all over the place.

Yes, I know the "sunburn" well. My docs completely missed it. They thought it was my normal skin coloring, LOL. I said to them, "You know, I don't normally have red skin and I don't normally have bumpy skin. This is all part of the drug reaction."

Keep a good eye those rashes. If you are not seeing a dermatologist, I would recommend an urgent appointment with one, sometime this week.

Also, keep in mind, the rash may get better after finishing Incivek, but it may not. Mine did not get better. It got worse. I have had some sort of rash in varying degrees since last Dec. 1st. So that is 11 months. I have been off Tx now for 12 weeks and I still have some rash, although I have finally been able to cut down to 3-5 Hydroxyzine a day instead of 8.

I am hoping yours gets better soon.

Take a look at these photos on LookingForward's profile page. She had a terrible rash and had to have steroid injections.

http://www.medhelp.org/personal_pages/user/1995824

[shocked60]

I am using Clobetasol .05% cream and I am on hydroxyzine 25 mg , I was only taking the hydrox in evening as nt to gettired. My dr said to take claritin in day but I have started to take hydrox in day also. I seemed to be getting better but after my weekly shot, it seemed worse the next day. my back seems to be clearing up. Looks like Iam sunburned. My legs look scary. So many red spots I can't keep track Thank you everybody for all your great help. So comforting to hear this too will end  I hope.
God Bless everyone that has to go through this!!!