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Persistent itch
About 2 months ago, I had a real bad cough and heavy congestion, and the doctor prescribed a cough syrup with codeine in it. Two weeks after I finished the medicine, I started itching on my legs, from the thigh down, and also on my arms. I tried taking benadryl for a couple of weeks, that didn't help. I also take medicine for herpes. I am a 47 year old female. Do you think hydrocortisone creme will help, or will I have to take oral medication. I tried taking a z-pack prescribed by my doctor, that didn't help either. My skin seems to be very, very dry, and the itching is very iritating.
Dr_Aparna,
Can you get the oral anti-histamine Centrizine/Loratidine over the counter, or do you need a prescription for this.
Can you get the oral anti-histamine Centrizine/Loratidine over the counter, or do you need a prescription for this.
Hi,
This could be due to an allergic reaction to the medication. Normally the response would be the appearance of hives associated with itching.
In some cases the reaction will be mild, so the sensory response will be evident in the form of itching but the vascular response in the form of hives will be absent.
Nevertheless. the same mechanism of action is the underlying cause for both these manifestations.
When an irritant comes into contact with your body, your immune system sends chemicals, including histamine, to fight it. The sudden spike in histamine levels can cause an outbreak of hives/itching in the upper layers of the skin.
Drugs (any drug can touch off an allergic reaction, although allergies to penicillin, sulfa, and aspirin are especially common) are the common triggers apart from certain foods and Pollens and plants.
You can take oral anti-histamines like Cetrizine/Loratidine. These will relieve the itching. Along with this you can apply anti-pruritic lotions and menthol based creams on the skin to soothe the area that is irritated.
Dry skin can exacerbate the itching, so you need to apply Vaseline or other moisturizing creams to keep the skin well hydrated.
Do it after a bath so that the moisture can be locked into the skin.
ref:http://www.myonlinewellness.com/topic/hivestreatment
This could be due to an allergic reaction to the medication. Normally the response would be the appearance of hives associated with itching.
In some cases the reaction will be mild, so the sensory response will be evident in the form of itching but the vascular response in the form of hives will be absent.
Nevertheless. the same mechanism of action is the underlying cause for both these manifestations.
When an irritant comes into contact with your body, your immune system sends chemicals, including histamine, to fight it. The sudden spike in histamine levels can cause an outbreak of hives/itching in the upper layers of the skin.
Drugs (any drug can touch off an allergic reaction, although allergies to penicillin, sulfa, and aspirin are especially common) are the common triggers apart from certain foods and Pollens and plants.
You can take oral anti-histamines like Cetrizine/Loratidine. These will relieve the itching. Along with this you can apply anti-pruritic lotions and menthol based creams on the skin to soothe the area that is irritated.
Dry skin can exacerbate the itching, so you need to apply Vaseline or other moisturizing creams to keep the skin well hydrated.
Do it after a bath so that the moisture can be locked into the skin.
ref:http://www.myonlinewellness.com/topic/hivestreatment
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