PRURIGO TREATMENTS --Pills

Here are some of the pills that are bringing some relief to those who suffer from Prurigo Nodularis.

The suggestions listed here come from the wonderful message board
at this link: Prurigo Nodularis Support

Updates	Person	Treatments
05/08/03	feelgoodfem	Omega-3 DHA and EPA, CoQ-10, Garlic capsules, Lecithin, Magnesium --strengthens my immune system.
09/10/03	eborg	Allegra or Claritin --Before I started taking Allegra, I was unable to sleep through the night within a scratching frenzy. Claritin also gives me relief.
09/10/03	williamjenningsbryan	Mastic gum pills --2 a day. Some improvement on bumps.
09/26/03	feelgoodfem	Allegra & Sudafed --I'm finding if I take Allegra and Sudafed only when I feel I need them, my body is much better off. For a while there my PN required I took these daily, and on a frequent basis. The less I take them, the better my body is.
05/08/03	feelgoodfem	Sun Chlorella tablets --worked my way up to 30 a day.
05/09/03	catook	Colostrum 2X a day.
05/12/03	feelgoodfem	Sudafed --it dries me out and my skin feels at it's best.
05/16/03	jd15	Doxepin --does cause drowsiness but definitely reduces itching.
05/20/03	portlync	Thalidomide --works for me....100 mg per night.
09/14/03	kjsandb	Prednisone --has done wonders. But as many here says this give only a temporary effect, I notice that when scaling down the dosage scratching starts again.
09/25/03	Ashley231	Zytec --I take Zyrtec once or twice a week if I am not doing well.
09/26/03	Laura	Benadryl --I take a Benadryl every night before bed.
09/27/03	feelgoodfem	Garlic pills --these are cheap, and they kill bacteria and any bad organisms in the body! Also healthy for the heart.
09/27/03	feelgoodfem	Evening Primrose Oil Gel Tabs, Omega 3 gel tabs (DHA/EPA), CoQ-10 capsules, Liver/kidney cleanse pills, Grapefruit Seed extract, Olive Leaf extract
09/22/03	Laura	Benadryl --taken before bed lets me sleep through the night without waking myself up from scratching in my sleep. Without it an ice pack wrapped in a towel helps sometimes.
10-22-03	Annette	Cyclosporine -- I have been on cyclosporine for a month. I am at least 90% better and not much itching. All my 200-300 places are dry and flaking off - with fresh looking pink skin underneath. For those of you that are new, I have had PN for 17 years. Cyclosporine is an auto-immune depressant which is given to transplant patients to keep them from rejecting the organ.
02-27-04	Annette	Cyclosporine --I have been taking Cyclosporine for about 4 months. My dermalogists was in shock this month when he saw me. All my places (which are all over my body) are flat and do not itch. It has been like being released from the prison gates of my body. All my blood work comes back fine, and I get healthy reports every month. You can take this medication for one year and then you have to take a break before continuing. My doctor said he was thinking of writing an article for the Dermatology journal because he was so pleased with the results.
02-24-04	Mary	Benadryl & Zyrtec --Benadryl (OTC) gave me better relief than Atarax and I find that Zyrtec helps me with the itching w/out the drowsiness.
02-25-04	Laura	Benadryl & Claritin --The first thing I did was try to stop scratching with the help of Benadryl, Claritin, Capsaicin and Penaten and hospital tape to cover the itchy spots. The less I scratched, the fewer bumps I had. I no longer use any of those products.
02-25-04	Sandy Ree	Lexapro --I am taking Lexapro for stress and it is helping.
02-25-04	Laura	Beta Sterolin & Quercetin --I went to a Naturopath who suggested that my natural histamines were improperly reacting to something (since the anti-histamines worked to stop itching) and recommended Beta Sterolin to help them do their job properly. She also discovered that my adrenal glands were not functioning well and suggested Quercetin. I have been taking both of these for the last month and a half.
02-20-04	Spedangie	Atarax --I used some 40mg of Atarax and wow, I was able to stop scratching while playing cards with my sister. What a miracle!
03-20-06	Kizzie	Omega 3 & 6 --My doctor has me taking omega 3 & 6 and it's made quite a difference for me.
12-07-05	Kjsandb	Cortisone Pills --I started taking Cortisone pills a few days before leaving and stopped when arriving in China. This kept me symptom free during the trip and a few weeks thereafter.
12-07-05	Kjsandb	Methotextrate + Warm Climate --I have been now on Methotextrate for 18 months and in combination with trips to a warm climate (e.g. Malaysia where we went in Feb/March) I have been reasonably well.
08-27-05	Scratchy Guy	MSM + Devil's Claw --MSM is a dietary supplement available at most every health food store. It's been used for years by horse breeders to relieve arthritis pain in the stock. Devil's Claw is used in Europe as a treatment for joint pain & rheumatoid arthritis.
09-08-05	Bridgett	Roaccutane --The drug Roaccutane which contains the thalidomide drug, I have been taking this twice a day for four months and all the open sores are now healed , however the side effects are quite severe very tired and the muscle ache is severe arthritis, the specialist has now reduced the dose to one a day for the next two months which has relieved the muscle ache , will keep you updated on the outcome, but no more blood on pillows but a lot of white scars but i can live with that.
09-07-05	ScratchyGuy	MSM + UVB Light --my PN is almost (knock on wood) completely gone, so I'm not focusing on NB right now. I'm covered in scars, but no new sores and the few remaining scabs no longer itch. MSM/UVB is what did it for me. But I emphasize that I don't have a clue if MSM/UVB will work for anyone else. I don't want to give anyone any false hope that it's a cure-all. I just don't know. I can only speak for myself. I take 2 1000mg tabs of MSM twice a day (A total of 4000mg per day.) Plus I lay under a tanning canopy 2 or 3 times a week for the UVB. The UVB light helps the healing. I've tried everything else I've read about in this group that I could even remotely experiment with. The MSM/UVB is the only thing that has worked. And I've kept detailed records of the regimen/results because I don't want to trust my memory or mood-o-the-day perspective as to what's working or not.
07-20-05	Annette	Cyclosporine --I was doing great on cyclosporine but reduced my dosage from 200 ml to 100 ml several months ago. Now my pn has flared back up.
06-21-05	TJune	Revlimid --Some good news: I heard from Bibi in England, she's been on Revlimid which is the new drug from Celgene (makers of Thalidomide) for about a year for PN. Bibi reports great success with Revlimid and she has learned that in the U.S., the FDA could approve it within a year. Use of Revlimid for PN is off-label (it's a cancer drug) but presumable will be cheaper and easier to get through insurance than Enbrel.
06-12-05	Marlene	Allegra + Atarax --I take one Allegra 180mg in the morning and 1 Atarax tablet at night. This seems to be the best pill combo to give me the most hours of relief. I use milk of magnesia twice a day, covering all affected areas, and get hours of relief.
05-23-05	Feelgoodfem	Sun Chlorella Tablets --In case anybody missed it when I posted it long ago, I use sun chlorella tablets. It's basically a body cleanser/detoxifier. If I take a handful before I go to bed, I have easy bowels the next morning and I can FEEL how it affects my skin from the inside almost immediately. This may just be my own experience though. I feel my personal situation is my PN comes from my gut, and the emptier I am, the better my skin is. Hence, why I have setbacks when I eat something I am allergic to or something that is overly acidic.. it's in my gut and my skin responds. www.sunchlorellausa.com/c...ablets.htm
04-26-05	Rezjet	Atarax + Antronex --I have been taking a generic Atarax (25 mg) for several months, 1/2 or 1 nightly. It helps me sleep and reduces the itching significantly. During the day, I also take a natural supplement from my Naturopath that has impacted me more successfully than Atarax. This product is called Antronex (Antronex) by Standard Process Inc. I take 2 tablets, 3x daily with meals. and the itching by day is reduced by 75%. The last 2 alternative specialists only use this company because of the company's longtime experience and success with natural products. My original itchy red bumps are smaller, much lighter in color and far less itchy! My skin is no longer bruised looking from night scratching. My recipe for improved success the last 4 months includes a nutritional plan called, Eat Right for your Blood Type (B), a few specific supplements, visits to the naturopath, exercise, lots of water, warm baths, and prayer... I am much healthier and happier... As Tanya mentioned, they are much improved from the active lesions.
04-21-05	Trevethan@aol.com	Astesen --I am taking a medication from Mexico called astesen it helps ALOT for the itching. I am now seeing some improvement with all these treatments I do.
04-25-05	Q1971pn1988	Sinquon or Doxepin --I have tried Atarax for two weeks but then I substituted it for Sinquan (25 mg Doxepin) because it affects two anti-histamin receptors (while Atarax only affects one anti-histamin receptor). I take one pill (=25 mg Doxepin) before going to sleep - it gives me relief during the night. If taken to help relieve depression the dose can be up to 150 mg so it is a relatively small doze. I have had PN since I was 17 - now I am 34 - so I can fully understand what you are going through! I think Sinquan (/Doxepin) helps better than Atarax - of course it also has side-effects (such as drowsiness) but it is an old anti-depressant so I believe it is a well-known drug.
04-22-05	TJune	Atarax --I have been taking generic atarax for ~2 years, with no side effects except drowsiness. It has really helped me. I only take 25 mg at bedtime now, but took up to 75 mg a day in the past. It's a very safe drug from a scientific/medical viewpoint, when not abused. As with all medications, moderation is the key and actually I think less is better. But if it helps anyone from tearing up their skin, I'd say use it and don't worry about it!
12-10-06	ScratchyGuy	Azithromycin --when I switched over to azithromycin, (pill form), I could see a change in the first couple weeks. It was very gradual but steady. I've been taking 500mg/day Azithromycin since July. My PN is in complete remission. Old sores healed. No new sores. Skin flat. No itching. Nothing but white scars.
12-09-06	Vehhead	Cyclosporine --A dermatologist at NYU put me on cyclosporine and within days the itch disappeared.
10-28-06	Francesca62	Antibiotics & UVB --I haven't posted in a long time but I wanted to share my experiences of long term antibiotic treatment. I've been on 100mg a day of doxycycline and now 100mg a day of minomycin. My condition has hugely improved. I have no itching and no new bumps or open sores. I also had 32 treatments of UVB which helped immensely. I've now been to 3 derms who agree the long term suppression therapy with antibiotics seems to be the key for me.
10-11-06	TJune	Omega 369 --I'm doing great! the Omega 3-6-9 has completely cleared up the last 3 spots I had!
08-26-06	Sbolling	Neutontin & Dilantin --I have been taking Neurontin (Gabapentin) which primarily is an anti-epileptic medication but has been used for many off-label uses. In my many hours of research I saw that another anti-epileptic (dilantin) had provided relief (and to some degree "cures") for pruritus. So I asked my doctor for dilantin. He wanted me to try Neurontin instead as it had few side-effects. I have been able to manage my itching quite successfully for several months with this medication. The majority of my lesions have healed. For the few that I still get, I don't have the same intense itching as before. I know this medication is helping because if I miss a dose or two, I start itching again.
08-25-06	Marlene	Biaxin --I just want to mention the relief the Biaxin antibiotic has given me this summer. Although it did not cure the PN, it cleared up so much of the secondary infection, that I had a relatively PN calm summer. It was the substitute for the Japanese RMX used in the study.
07-23-06	Kizzie55	Omega 36 --My doc put me on Omega 3 & 6 after giving me the injections of cortisone directly into the bumps. I have not had a outbreak since I've been on omega. The spots are still there and I'm working on trying to fade them a bit but not much progress on that part yet. I strongly recommend the Omegas.
08-17-06	Kizzie	Omega 36 --I've been on the omega 3 & 6 now for 7 months. I haven't had any PN outbreaks and they are all healed. Of course, I still have the marks on my skin but NO ITCHING. My derm recommended that I take them for a few months. I was taking them 3 times a day but have been reduced to twice a day. I am so sorry this wasn't recommended before. I am certain that you will see a change in your PN within a month. For some reason she didn't put me on omega 9...don't know why but the 3 & 6 have worked miracles for me.
08-17-06	Rebecca Tai	Omega 369 --It's good to hear that Omega 3 and 6 works well on you. I have been on Omega 3-6-9 for a few months and my all my old PNs have gone. New ones do come about but have never developed into bumps like before after I have started taking Omega 3-6-9. They stay for one or two days and then disappear.
08-24-06	Marlene	Biaxin Pills --I have had moderate success with the antibiotic, Biaxin (orally) this summer. It definitely cleared up secondary infection in all of the lesions, leaving what I think of as the 'site of origin', which is relatively small. I have only been on it for 5 weeks, and hoping to continue for a bit. Some sores are healing, and I am much more comfortable than in past summers without it.
01-07-07	Sherrie	Prednisone --I seemed to receive relief over a 2 yr period of time after being on Prednisone continuously for other health problems. I had to stop and of course the itching returned.
01-04-07	Vera	Singulair --Amongst the sufferers of another itchy eczema, a woman recently posted that she got a huge improvement from Singulair (taken for sinusitis).
02-16-04	Kathyj	Armour Thyroid --There is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis where your immune system mistakes your thyroid as an enemy and attacks it. I had the severe dryness, tightness, etc., in addition to PN on my arms. Once I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, I went on Armour Thyroid and everything cleared up.
06-05-04	SandyRee	Lexapro --I have also started taking Lexapro for my nerves and it has really helped also. I will have a terrible break out in one place like my arms and then all of a sudden they dry up and break out on my legs. Even tho I have gotten the sores to dry I am stilling itching skin especially where my arms join my shoulders in the front. Sometimes it turns blood red. I have noticed nerves, chocolate have bad reactions like itching. Allegra or a sinus pills usually stops the itching, only for it to come back later.
07-13-04	Q1971pn1988	Thalidomide --I have tried many different treatments but the only one that has had any good effect on my PN is Thalidomide. I started taking Thalidomide in April 1999 (100 mg before bedtime). After two-three months I started taking 50 mg instead - and I still got a good effect - the nodules became smaller/disappeared and most importantly the itching was almost gone. What a relief!!!! Unfortunately I became very dizzy and tired and had problems concentrating because of the medicine but that was far better than the PN and I only stopped taking Thalidomide after two years because I was feeling the early signs of neuropathy - a numbness of my feet (almost as if I had a layer of stearin on the soles of my feet). Today the numbness is almost gone and I am grateful for the two years of relief that Thalidomide gave me - unfortunately PN gradually came back after again.

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