Thursday, November 12, 2009 Divinely Favored asks

Q: Could severe itching be associated with MS?

I was diagnosed with MS about 3 months ago. I will begin my treatment next week. But lately, I have been itching, all over my body, and to the point where it's causing my skin to welt. I have checked to see if it was my detergent or perfume or certain jewelry that I wear. And it's not those things. I have even changed soaps and lotions but it's not those things either. The only thing that seems to calm this down is a topical Cortisone or Benadryl. But I have done a little online research and have seen where others with an MS diagnosis have had this same itching and it not be due to medicines or any outside irritant. So, I was just wondering if the Copaxone that I will be taking maybe stop this. Or is this a symptom of MS at all?

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Answers (2)

cwf1965

1/15/10 3:09pm

I was diagnosed with RR MS in 1996. I do very well and still work and take care of my family, etc. About 7 years ago, I started itching so severly that I clawed myself till I bleed. I would wake up every morning with blood on my sheets. My skin looked horrible and raw, etc. I asked my neuro and he said not my MS. I went to Allergist, Internist, general prac. and Dermatologist. NOTHING

I did this for 13 months straight with no relief. I could barely sleep enough to get up and work the next day. It was so bad everybody noticed it and commented.

I still have spells of itching fairly often but not to that extreme because I take hydroxizine every day.

I read about a few others with MS having itching that scratching didn't seem to reach...like mine...it was in a article about 2-4 years ago in the MS magazine. I don't think it was called Momentum then but it may have been. The only thing that worked for them was hydroxizine...so I got my doctor to prescribe it and it helps a lot.

Divinely Favored

1/15/10 3:27pm

Thank you so much. I have started the Copaxone and I am compliant for the most part. I found what has helped is the Neurontin that I was initially prescribed. But it doesn't always work right away. At night is when the itching is so bad. I have to take something like liquid Tylenol or liquid Benedryl just to get to sleep. It has gotten so bad until it had awakened me at night and I couldn't stop scratching. AWFUL!!! But the Neurontin helps. Thank you for the tip on the Hydroxizine. I may try that next.

Be blessed!

The Baseball Savant

2/15/12 11:24pm

I was diagnosed with MS in 2008, although my symptoms began in 2002. I was on Rebif therapy until 2011, when I switched to Tysabri due to recurring relapses. Toward the end of my Rebif therapy I began to experience itching. My itching was all on my left side, at my ankle, hip, and back. It would come on me usually in the evening. It has continued during my Tysabri therapy. My MS parasthesia is also focused on my left side. I use only non-scented laundry soap. I have also noticed that only my left ankle itches -- never the right. I have found relief with Benedryl gel applied in the evening and just before bedtime. I hope you find the relief you need.

Q: Could severe itching be associated with MS?

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