Liver disease itching: What helps?

I use Mupirocin ointment which is a skin antibiotic and used for bacteria. It helps my itching and stops it pretty quickly.

Is this over the counter?

Hi, @chuckg, and Welcome to Connect.
I am a patient who experienced the awful constant itching with my liver disease, PSC, before I received my transplant in 2009. I have not seen anyone refer to the ointment which you have mentioned(Mupirocin ointment) so I looked it up. I read that Mupirocin ointment is a medication that treats bacterial skin infections. It prevents bacteria growth and kills existing bacteria on your skin.
Since you have posted in this, the transplant group, I want to caution that itching is a symptom of liver disease, and it is not caused by an infection of bacteria. Also with a liver disease, it is best to discuss any over-the counter medications with your doctor.

Are you a patient with a liver disease? Have you shared your itchy skin with your doctor?

No @lsheerin , it is prescription.

Hi, @rosemarya. I was diagnosed with PSC in 2005. From that time until around 2020 I was coping and managing PSC with the usual drug regiment. I had a pretty bad bleed esophageal in Colorado (on vacation) and had an emergency banding done.

With that episode it was time to go to Duke transplant clinic. I had developed some scaring on the liver and it was determined that autoimmune hepatitis was causing that. Add inguinal hernia on right side below liver-diagnosed a few months back to the mix. Said there's a 13% chance for liver decomposation.

I am currently working to get stronger and get BMI down. Also will see a denist for a recommended deep clean. Plus other to do items such as an upcoming MRCP, EGD and some 34 lab test.
My current MELD is 17 and I have the listing which will be done in late October. I hope the listing is successful. When is accepted, then take care of hernia.

Good morning
I used Aveeno oatmeal bath 3x p/week. And used Gold Bond daily and nightly. It didn't make it go away, but it did help.
Hope this helps ☺️

Hi Jeanne,
Sorry for the late reply here, but I wanted to share a piece of my story in case it might help. I am 2-3 weeks away from my 1yr “anniversary” and just developed this itching. I was scratching so much at night that I actually made myself bleed it was so intense. My dermatologist said it was dry skin since we just moved from south Florida to Denver, and she said I’m just dry from the change in humidity. I tried every cream available (even the $100 ointment that was no help). Long story short, last week a new doctor prescribed Atarax(pill form), and within 30min I was itch free for the first time in months! Needless to say it’s been added to my med list so it’s there when I need it. I highly recommend talking to your doctor(s) to see if it might help. Good luck!!

Like @keithjp77, I was prescribed Atarax for my severe itching pre-transplant as I also had stage 4 liver disease. The itching was relentless until transplant (5/3/23!). Fortunately, post transplant, the itching was gone. Atarax was a brilliant, easy and safe solution that my hepatologist allowed. (I am a patient of Northwestern Memorial - Chicago.)

Hello

Itchiness is a common symptom of liver disease. It happens before and after a liver transplant and one has to learn to live with it.
Since you mentioned that you are stage 4, are you in any type of plan at the hospital for a transplant?
Typically, the hospital will guide you as to what you need to do.
After my transplant 4 and a half years ago, the itching still continues but not often.
When that happens, I requested to use
For hair: Clinical Solutions by Proctor and Gamble. (Amazon)
No prescription is required.
For skin, I was prescribed by the dermatologist:
Clobetasol Propionate Cream USP 0.05 %
Made by Xiomed LLC
This is around 75.00 most insurance does not cover.
This ointment works really well, the itching is gone after a couple of hours.

Don’t take my word for it, just consult the doctors prior to using anything when you have liver-related problems.
Best luck and get well, please.

Hello everyone,
I wish I had learned of this group 5/6 years back when I was going through my itching phase. Back then nothing prescribed or recommended by my doctors worked for the itching. We tried everything from Benadryl to cold creams, Sarna lotion. I didn’t go as far as seeing a dermatologist . I use to brake the skin it was so bad. Eventually I would try my best to easy my mind and not think about it and it went away. Applying cold water to my hand when they itched helped sometimes but I couldn’t do that all the time for other parts of my body. Reading these posts now, the itching was definitely an indication of rejection of the first transplant. The itching did eventually stop but I can’t remember if it was right before if after my second transplant.

For anyone going through it now, I also recommend taking any suggestions given here and then talking to your doctor.