benadryl

[Marcia2202]

Can someone please share with me, which benadryl is used for the riba rash/itch while on tx. In Denmark we have two kinds. The one taken 1 x per day and it has a 24 hr effect. And then there is the one taken several times a day, as it only last for 4 or 6 hrs (can't remember exactly)

Thank you,

Marcia

[Isobella]

Thanks for the explanation.  When you responded originally about the itch coming from our skin being dehydrated it certainly got my attention.  I am gonna stick with hydrating from the inside out.  (at least that is the plan now.....ask me again in about a month!!)

Honestly, when I stick to my docs advise of using lotion 10 times a day the results are amazing.  Hard on my rings tho!!  I'm not taking any meds without docs permission!

Thanks again, Deb!

[jdwithhcv]

I'm so glad you posted Dr. Deitrich's advice, I'm really glad to hear its ok to use hydrocortisone cream.  I'm allergic to benadryl and I didn't know what else to try so I've been toughing it out for the past 42 weeks.  Maybe now I can get some relief, even if it is late in the game.

jd

[Marcia2202]

Thanks for pointing this out.

I had started this thread asking about Benadryl, because  Dr. Dieterich advised someone asking about the itch on the hep c expert forum to use it.

'Dont worry about the itching, but bendadryl and over the counter hydrocortison creams are the first line and help a lot.'

In the Danish Hepatitis C handbook they give patients at the hospital, they actually advise to use lotion (just like you were saying) and if the itch becomes too bad, they suggest one should ask the doctor to prescribe a hydrocortisone cream. (not available as over the counter medicine in DK)

Marcia

[nygirl7]

i would advise being VERY careful about taking any antihistamine while on treatment - not only the skin rash but the tongue bumps and bad teeth decay and many other conditions can be brought on by this dehydration. It's NOT regular dehydration at all. In fact it goes so deep into our bodies I think sometimes it's one of the reasons we lose alot of weight in the very beginning - the lack of water weight so to speak.

Of course, everyone is different but if you should need to take it i would start at a half dose and see what happens. My body reacted COMPLETELY differently to medications like that when I was on treatment.  Meds I was able to take all of my life could wipe me out.

Plus - there have never been any studies done to show if it could possibly change the efficacy of the meds we do take.  I hesitate to take ANYTHING unless there is an absolute study (or unless obviously you need it that bad - for example my doc said no ibuprofen but with my migraines I could have rather quit treaTment when I got one if I couldn't take two).  You know what I mean as a logical adult...just be careful!

Better to be safe rather than sorry.

[Marcia2202]

Thanks for the advice.

That is the problem with diphenhydramine (the first generation antihistamine), the drowsiness etc. That is why they developed the second generation like acrivastine and cetrizine. In Denmark they sell Benadryl (acrivastine) and Benaday (cetrizine) in their pure form so they are purely antihistamines. In the US acrivastine is a decongestant as it is mixed with another substance. They do not sell the US version which is diphenhydramine here.

The second generation antihistamines do not make you drowsy or sleepy, so I think I will ask the doctors here what they usually suggest for the riba rash/itch. I can always ask my brother to bring me some US Benadryl when he comes to visit in July.

Marcia

[Marcia2202]

Girl, you are soooo funny, i wouldn't run around in a burqa, but maybe some kind of Halloween costume would do. Going bald in the winter wouldn't be that good. Maybe I should get one of those wigs with a big Fro, the way I used to have it in the 70ies. That would be quite funky. And then a blond one, ha ha. That would so look weird on me.

I'm not sure that it would be even too noticeable, if I even lost half of my hair. It is curly and very fine like baby hair, so it tends to be fluffy, if I don't put some leave in conditioner in. So if it thins out, I'll just stop the leave in conditioner and it will look twice it's size... Women  ... huh, all the concerns we have about our hair. The never ending story. I love my hair and I don't want to give it to no Pegasys nor Copegus. I wanna keep it to myself.

Okay, enough with being silly, I can see it's almost bedtime for me.

Marcia

[susan400]

I've been fortunate in that with the Riba, I don't usually get the itch as long as I stay out of the sun!  I only had it with the VX-950.    When I do get an allergy flare-up I will take one of the regular 4-6 hr. Benedryl caplets and break it in 1/2.  The caplets will do this, but the capsules you aren't supposed to break.  So, there again, I'm just getting 1/2 a dose in.  Also, it makes me very sleepy so if I need to drive somewhere I can't take it.  So, I usually reserve that for when I know that I'm in for the rest of the day or evening.

Susan400

[meki]

Nah you're not...

You have a beautiful face - so you could be one of those bald women who shines everywhere --- you have NO worries. LOL!

Hugs,

Meki

[Marcia2202]

I love the burqa bit most, are we gonna be looking that repulsive that we might need one?

[Isobella]

LOL!  Where can I get one of those cars??

[medicmommy]

LMAO! I love the part about GPS for the car! No Doubt!LOL In my 2nd week, I actually forgot I was driving for a moment while on the freeway! Good Lord, how scary! Perhaps "auto pilot" would be better! I learned what "brain fog" truely was then...LOL...It horrifies me to think I was actually considering working during txing...Imagine...Oh sorry that you're in cardiac arrest...lets pause a moment while I consult my protocol book for your drug doses...Yikes! ~Melinda

[Marcia2202]

ROFL

Melinda, thanks for bring tears to my eyes.... It is so great to laugh until they roll...

It was actually Lonestar823 who posted that with the sign.... but here is some more she posted... it will totally crack you up

Hugs, Marcia



a private nest away from all if needed
lap top or pc available 24 hours
telephone
books
tv
a do not disturb sign to hang on your front door
maybe a small fridge for your room

a car
a car with GPS
a car which will remind you that you need fuel ; ]
a car which will remind you to go directly home, don't answer the phone. ; ]

direct bill pay.

then later on a birka . ; ]  (burqa)

later still, grace.  Just grace and it doesn't even cost much. ; ]  

My very best Boo.

LS

[medicmommy]

I just read your pre-tx prep list, and had to chuckle...Ah the memory...(Just kidding!) You might want to add a sign posted on your front door (a picture of a growling rottweiler might do) that says," Enter at your own risk!" for the really cranky Riba rage days...(I'm normally a very happy, optimistic and unflappable person...When the Riba rages hit, I scared myself! Snarling and growling at everything...Even the worst PMS day hadn't prepared me for that! Luckily, I didn't have to deal with pre-existing depression, and most of the irritability went away after my body adjusted to the riba..)  Being well prepared is a good thing...You really don't feel like running to the store if you are nauseated and feel like poo... It's really easy to psych yourself up in knots over this...I'll bet, after the first week, you'll be thinking,"Is this IT?!?" and feel greatly relieved the waiting to tx is done...(((((((((((((((HUGZ)))))))))))          ~Melinda

[Marcia2202]

Thanks for all the input. Obviously I wont be able to get my hands onto the US version(diphenhydramine, a first generation antihistamine) of Benadryl here in Denmark (acrivastine and cetrizine) . So we are talking about apples and pears.

I will ask my doctors here in DK, what they suggest, as we do not have diphenhydramine in Denmark.

I have all the lotions and everything lined up already, so in case I get a bad itch or rash, I'll let the docs prescribe me something.

I'm not worried about anything really, just like to be well prepared.

Marcia

[Isobella]

Just a thought, Deb says the riba rash is caused more by a dehydration of our skin, in that case wouldn't benedryl dry us out even more?? I am thinking so - as it will give you cotton mouth (and cotton head!).

If you do need it tho, I still like the kids liquid.  Just enough to take the itch away without putting you to sleep.

  

[Emilio44]

Hopefully you will be spared, good luck with that!  I got the rash from about 4-8 weeks and used Aristocorte? cream.  Rash disappeared and hasn't returned so far at week 17. Emi

[proud48]

My doctor gave me Atarax for the Riba rash...It requires a prescription but it was worth it. Helped the rash, itching  and helped with sleep.
sadd

[Marcia2202]

Thanks for all the info. Since I wondered why your info and mine did not match, I checked it out... and stumbled onto this. I am in Denmark and the same as the UK applies.  Marcia

* In the U.S., Benadryl is diphenhydramine, a first generation antihistamine. It is also formulated in combination with other active ingredients and sold under variations of the Benadryl name.
    * In the U.K., Benadryl Allergy Relief is acrivastine, a second generation antihistamine.
    * In the U.K., Benadryl Once a Day is cetirizine, a second generation antihistamine.

[nygirl7]

I don't think the rash is actually an allergy - it's more caused by the dehydration on our skin than anything else.

Riba rash is CONSTANT it does not come and go.  I found that the lotion helps but it takes a few days and after the rash disappears you have to CONTINUE with it.

Taking benedryl constantly will make you even MORE lethargic than you arleady are.  I don't think you'd want to take it continuously because it would be the biggest fog of all the fogs.

Be careful about that.   and as Eric said you might be one of the lucky ones!

You will know the ribarash when it pops up because it sort of looks and feels like flea bites must - the first day I got the first spot I actually thought maybe a gnat bit me or something.  No such luck and pretty soon it was everywhere.

[medicmommy]

I forgot...acrivastine is a decongestant rather than a true antihistamine...It is more like psuedophedrine...(for sinus congestion relief)...                              ~Melinda

[medicmommy]

The generic name of Benedryl is diphenhydramine...It comes in 25 and 50 mg doses and lasts up to 8 hours...it also makes you very groggy and cotton-mouthed. I don't care for it, even at night, because it leaves a lasting "hung-over" feeling....I've found for the day that Loratidine 10 mg (also known as claritin here in the US) lasts for up to 24 hours and for an added relief at night (also makes you sleepy) chorophineramine 2-4 mg (also known as Chlor-trimeton in US)...It works for about 8 hours, and you wake up and feel rested...Hope this helps...-And once again, A good after bath body oil like Aveeno, works as good , if not better than all the medications...And drinking loads of water...Lots and lots of water...:)                                                               ~Melinda

[Marcia2202]

My bad. The 24 hr one is called Benaday... It's cetirizin, like Zyrtec. Benadryl is acrivastin. So maybe one shouldn't take the Benaday anyway. ??? I cannot find anything for kids here in DK. So I will have to go for the pills, if I will need them at all

[Marcia2202]

I will try to find out, if they have the liquid in DK.

I've only seen the pills so far, as I sometimes get allergies from dust and pollen and buy them.

Funny enough, this year I have had Zero allergies

[Isobella]

I am the queen of benedryl.  Not really as great an honor as it sounds!  But what works for me is to use the childrens liquid.  Each teaspoon is equal to 12.5 mgs, which is half the regular adult dose.  I just take enough to loose the itch, but hopefully not make me too drowsy.  

But as you know, I haven't started tx yet either.  I just have experience with itchies. :-)