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MedHelp Member's Question

Nasty rash after day 5

by toughluck, Jul 21, 2008 07:17PM
My body is red arms, torso, back and legs, feels like a sunburn, lots of red dots, itch what is going on.
Member Comments (16)

by Odin999, Jul 21, 2008 07:42PM
To: toughluck
Are you on SOC or in a Telepravir trial? I was lucky not to have too much trouble with rashes, but I have frequently heard that catching the problem right at the beginning is the way to go. Can you get it touch with your specialist right away?

by merryBe, Jul 21, 2008 08:08PM
To: toughluck
sounds like you'll need the big guns....Rx's for the itch exist so have your doc call one in for you. lotions like Gold Bond extra strength, or my favorite was to sit in a tepid bath with olive oil for a few minutes. Coating the skin to keep it hydrated, and using a humidifie both helpr, changing your clothes and sheets to 100 % silk or softest rayon or cotton are all helpful.
Usually the rash settles down for most...but the skin doesn't like Riba, so it can be insane to the nerve endings the first few weeks.
I found going to very short tepid showers
with non harsh soaps helped most. The more you can hydrate your skin the better but the longer showers and soaks dry out the skin so avoid the temptation. Sometimes it feels good to soak, but long term it dry out and makes things worse.  
Don't use any bleaches, or antibacterials. This is a reaction of one organ, known as your skin, to the INF/Riba and trying to kill bacteria on the skin that exist there naturally will not solve the issue but further irriate already aggravated tissue.
MB


by copyman, Jul 21, 2008 08:15PM
are you on in the telaprevir trial? either way drink more water.

by toughluck, Jul 21, 2008 08:17PM
To: copyman
yes the trial

by toughluck, Jul 21, 2008 08:27PM
To: all
I will drink tons of water, see the doctor tomorrow, this bites I feel like I am catching on fire

by DennisTM, Jul 21, 2008 08:57PM
To: toughluck
I had the itch and rash very early on and they did nothing for me until they thought I was going to scar so they told me to see a dermatologist, he prescribed me auqauphilic and steroid cream, I really think that the Auquaphilic that you can get at any pharmacy would have helped, put it on ten times a day if necessary. The dermatologist said it was mostly dry skin... I have also at the end of 24 weeks become severely dehydrated so when they tell you to drink water drink all you can stand and more,, drink juice and gaterade also. to help keep your electrolytes up and to add something different to your liquid intake.

by DennisTM, Jul 21, 2008 09:29PM
To: toughluck
btw I tried every lotion available and it did not work, it would get better at times but never cleared up. When I tried the auquaphilic it got better within a day and was cleared up within a week. I do not know if it is the same problem or if the solution will help.

by Odin999, Jul 21, 2008 09:46PM
To: toughluck
Don't want to scare you but my specialist told me that some people have needed to be hospitalized for the Telepravir rash. May not be that serious for you, but better check quickly.

by springfever, Jul 21, 2008 09:50PM
To: toughluck
Now you know you are in one of the arms that gets teleprevir.  Your odds of SVR just went up!
Good luck!

by Odin999, Jul 21, 2008 10:00PM
To: springfever and toughluck
Yes!!! Ha! That is great news toughluck.

by toughluck, Jul 21, 2008 10:14PM
To: AL
This does not mean it is Telaprevir, could be the riba, don't jump to conclusions please.

by Odin999, Jul 22, 2008 01:06AM
To: toughluck
Sorry toughluck. You are correct. Didn't mean to offend. I just thought springfever's comment was a nice bit of graveyard humour.

Does the Riba rash usually show up so quickly?

Hope it gets better soon.

by dointime, Jul 22, 2008 05:22AM
To: toughluck
For the telaprevir rash you need the big guns.  That means corticosteroid creams/ointments.  Don't mess about with lesser treatments as that rash can crash you out of the trial.  I had it and used Elocon cream which more or less controlled it.  Your doc can write script for that or similar.  (not to be used on your face though, your doc will advise).  Don't delay, that rash is serious sh!t,

good luck
dointime    

by mremeet, Jul 22, 2008 09:38AM
To: toughluck
Toughluck you may be in for some toughluck. I was in the prove 1 telaprevir trial and my rash got REALLY out of hand starting at about week 7. Not everyone gets the super rash (only about 10%), but a good ~30% still develop a nasty and very miserable rash. You might be one of them, so get in to the doc ASAP and get some meds to control it. I had to take prednisone (an oral immunosuppressant) and stop the telaprevir altogether to get mine under control, but some got by with just topical lotions (and could continue with the meds). Don't delay or dally, get in and get yourself treated quickly. Don't sit back and let it flower into a nightmare. You can click on my name and search through my posts (dated around Sept-Dec 2006) for details on what happens with a super rash. Look at "prettydamscared" posts too, she also got it. Good luck, hope it settles down soon!

by chefsalad