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Liver disease itching: What helps?

Transplants | Last Active: Nov 22, 2023 | Replies (155)

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@crystalfaye

Hello. I sympathize with those of you who are dealing with post transplant itching. I am six months post and my chronic itching began around two and a half months. It was horrible!!!!! I was admitted to the hospital on two separate occasions it was so bad. Post transplant itching is a major sign of issues with your bile ducts. I had every test imaginable and they could not find the culprit. Then my bilirubin went up to 12 and the itching got even worse and landed me back in the hospital again. So this is what my team and I have come up with to help with the itching. I take Ursodial three times a day. It helps to bind the bile salts. I also drink cholesyrine. It is used for high cholesterol but also has proven to aid with those who have itching. I am on hydroxyzine and Benadryl every six hours. Normally one would not take these two drugs together but it has helped me tremendously. I also take Zoloft which is an anti-depressant but is used for itching as well. Gabapentin was added recently to help with the pain of itching. This is a lot of medication and I don't like taking all of it. However, the itching was so bad for me I would scratch until I bled. On my own I have come up with using Sarna lotion that has the menthol and camphor in it. It works as a cooling agent. My Dermatologist advised me to keep it in the refrigeration so that it is cold. So I use the Sarna lotion and mix it in my hand with a little bit of Benadryl gel for itching. I apply this first to my feet and then put on thin white socks. I then just work my way up my body applying it all over. All of this is what helped me. My itching was so bad that I felt like I just simply couldn't deal with it anymore. I pray that this information will help and that you will feel some relief. Also, stay busy doing something all of the time. The itching is worse when you are not active. Feel free to message me anytime.

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