Absolute living hell. For about 2 years this affected both my outer forearms near the elbows. when it first came on the itching was so intense I dug well into my arms and was pouring straight rubbing alcohol on the wounds to try desperately to turn the itching into a pain sensation (which was preferable). I finally got in to see a doctor who immediately prescribed a fairly high dose of Doxepin (which worked immediately). (My doctor told me that Doxepin is the generic of Sinequan, the drug they give recovering heroin addicts to remove the itchy crawly sensation from their skin as they detox). it is a very powerful tricyclic antidepressant that happens to have this skin side effect.) The doxepin took all skin sensation away - it was odd - I could not feel me touching my own skin. I was also a zombie and good for absolutely nothing while on that medication but I was so desperate for relief I was grateful. I took doxepin for a month per doctors orders. After that the doc put me on 'regular' antidepressants - which helped - first generic prozac then generic celexa. He explained that this was some form of 'atopic' or contact dermatitis that was probably caused by depression / anxiety. I agreed that I did suffer from depression and anxiety and was ok with taking the antidepressants. I disagreed with him about the exact cause or trigger for the itching and we had a long, intelligent discussion about this. Exposure to DIRECT sunlight here in Florida would trigger it - it started suddenly and with no warning. I thought I had gotten some kind of bug bites after gardening outside. I had a minor car accident a few months later, hurt my neck and back, the symptoms grew dramatically worse. I had some back trauma 10 years ago. I also suspect there is some connection with both neck/back nerve injury and exposure to the sun / solar radiation (plain heat will not trigger it). At the time of onset I was not on any medications at all. That was when I found some article on the web relating to brachioradial pruitis - and I brought them in to see my doctor. He had not seen that information before and agreed this looked liek what I am suffering from. I was able to manage Flare ups (successfully) by slathering the affected areas of my arms with LANACAINE (over the counter skin ointment / cream in a yellow tube, only certain drug stores carry it) contains 10% benzocaine. No side effects except for some localized skin numbness. It's been years now and I STILL keep an emergency kit in the car / house / wherever just in case. The itching went away on it's own. I am off antideppressants for about 9 months now (but am now taking medication for hypothyroid). It has been 4 years now since the itching vanished. I am very grateful. But I live with a quiet fear always that it may someday return. I am able to go out into the sun with no itching But I don't push my luck and spend all day at the beach or anything like that. I am cautious.
SO - TO RECAP:
LANACAINE WORKS FOR FLARE-UPS.
DOXEPIN / SINEQUAN WORKS FOR ACUTE CHRONIC EPISODES.
GET EFFECTIVE CHIROPRACTIC OR SURGICAL CARE FOR ANY NECK / BACK RELATED INJURIES where anything may be pressing on the nerves, even slightly.
STAY OUT OF THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
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Absolute living hell. For about 2 years this affected both my outer forearms near the elbows. when it first came on the itching was so intense I dug well into my arms and was pouring straight rubbing alcohol on the wounds to try desperately to turn the itching into a pain sensation (which was preferable). I finally got in to see a doctor who immediately prescribed a fairly high dose of Doxepin (which worked immediately). (My doctor told me that Doxepin is the generic of Sinequan, the drug they give recovering heroin addicts to remove the itchy crawly sensation from their skin as they detox). it is a very powerful tricyclic antidepressant that happens to have this skin side effect.) The doxepin took all skin sensation away - it was odd - I could not feel me touching my own skin. I was also a zombie and good for absolutely nothing while on that medication but I was so desperate for relief I was grateful. I took doxepin for a month per doctors orders. After that the doc put me on 'regular' antidepressants - which helped - first generic prozac then generic celexa. He explained that this was some form of 'atopic' or contact dermatitis that was probably caused by depression / anxiety. I agreed that I did suffer from depression and anxiety and was ok with taking the antidepressants. I disagreed with him about the exact cause or trigger for the itching and we had a long, intelligent discussion about this. Exposure to DIRECT sunlight here in Florida would trigger it - it started suddenly and with no warning. I thought I had gotten some kind of bug bites after gardening outside. I had a minor car accident a few months later, hurt my neck and back, the symptoms grew dramatically worse. I had some back trauma 10 years ago. I also suspect there is some connection with both neck/back nerve injury and exposure to the sun / solar radiation (plain heat will not trigger it). At the time of onset I was not on any medications at all. That was when I found some article on the web relating to brachioradial pruitis - and I brought them in to see my doctor. He had not seen that information before and agreed this looked liek what I am suffering from. I was able to manage Flare ups (successfully) by slathering the affected areas of my arms with LANACAINE (over the counter skin ointment / cream in a yellow tube, only certain drug stores carry it) contains 10% benzocaine. No side effects except for some localized skin numbness. It's been years now and I STILL keep an emergency kit in the car / house / wherever just in case. The itching went away on it's own. I am off antideppressants for about 9 months now (but am now taking medication for hypothyroid). It has been 4 years now since the itching vanished. I am very grateful. But I live with a quiet fear always that it may someday return. I am able to go out into the sun with no itching But I don't push my luck and spend all day at the beach or anything like that. I am cautious.
SO - TO RECAP:
June 16, 2015 - 4:50pmLANACAINE WORKS FOR FLARE-UPS.
DOXEPIN / SINEQUAN WORKS FOR ACUTE CHRONIC EPISODES.
GET EFFECTIVE CHIROPRACTIC OR SURGICAL CARE FOR ANY NECK / BACK RELATED INJURIES where anything may be pressing on the nerves, even slightly.
STAY OUT OF THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
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