Hi Jeanne, I also had severe itching with my liver disease, as did other liver patients.

At first, for the itching, I took an over-the-counter antihistamine. At first this helped give me some relief. But when my itching became severe, my local GI wrote a prescription for Chlorestyramine, a bilebinder and that gave me the relief I needed. It was a powder that I added to a glass of water and drank. But that could have been related to my liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) a disease that affects the bile ducts.

As far as a topical relief – I got some relief with Sarna anti itch lotion. It is an over the counter lotion.
I also found that a warm bath in Aveeno bath treatment for itchy skin was helpful and soothing, but getting in and out of the tub, was too much for my swollen body at that time.

I don't remember when or why, but sometime during my pre transplant time, and my care by transplant team in Kentucky, and later at Mayo, my itching eased as other bothersome symptoms took over.

Jeanne, Here is a discussion about itching in the Kidney and Bladder Group.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/itchy-skin-2ee1a9/