Body itching

Thanks and will be curious as to the reports findings. I sure have heard horror stories!

anymore photos....i have actual cocoons. insects can make them.

Hello. Morgellons and other parasites. Count me in. I'm new at this, so please bare with me. Hope you get well soon. Do the Mayo Clinic help people who suffer with Morgellons? Is it a man made disease? And are individuals really targeted? Thanks for sharing/

Welcome @morgellons33, Mayo Clinic does have some information on Morgellons disease here - https://www.mayoclinic.org/morgellons-disease/art-20044996. There is also another discussion that you might find helpful:
--- Lyme Disease and its Co-Infections, Morgellons Disease and Parasites: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/morgellons-and-other-parasites/

@specialteacher I am just seeing this, so by now you must have found a solution to your itching.

I was at my dermatologist’s on Wednesday and told him my scalp and body itching was driving me crazy. He has prescribed Gabapentin 100mg. To be taken three times a day, but told me to start with just once a day at bedtime because it causes sleepiness and unsteadiness, then go on to twice a day when that is tolerated well, and finally to three times a day.

I found that one capsule at night helped considerably with my itching and since I had no reactions to the Gabapentin (other than slight nausea), I took one in the morning too. Not much difference, but at least I am not clawing at myself. Maybe the itching will stop after a few days of taking this medication. I am going to stay at two capsules a day for now, and if that doesn’t completely ease off the itching in a week or so, will try three times a day as the dermatologist has suggested. Reason why I am doing just twice a day is because there was improvement already with one dose and Ifntwo doses finally work, why take three!?

Do you have any idea why gabapentin? My understanding is that it is used as a pain killer. My dog is on it for his arthritis!

@bayhorse I have learned, over the past few years that certain medications can work off label. I have been prescribed other medications that are “not supposed to be used” for a certain condition, but it has been used and it has worked - so I didn’t question my dermatologist. I was surprised too, because even I thought it was for pain but … it has eased my itching. I have been told to take it three times a day but I have been taking it for just twice a day. No side effects, except the first couple of nights I felt slightly nauseous while lying down. Don’t feel nauseous any more.

I have a senior dog and one cat (all pets are rescues, most by me personally) on gabapentin - dog for genetic disc disease of spine, and chondrodystrophy of legs (same gene that results in shortened limbs in humans, revealed by DNA test)) now arthritis in neck & shoulders, cat for thickened painful bladder (cystitis); is for nerve pain as functional disorders do impact nerves (they are everywhere in body) causing more pain - hope is to ease nerve irritation to reduce overall discomfort (are others by different names and uses). cannot be used PRN (as needed) so must find a dosage and frequency that works for you. Literally puts me o-u-t so off my list (my GeneSight variant test says most other drugs are also). Dogs & cats are not humans and metabolize drugs differently from each other and us - but if i cannot tolerate "G", i am so glad it works wonders for them, and for any human that gets a measure of relief. Nothing ventured, nothing gained - in pursuit of quality of your life. Still looking here after 50+ years and counting; there are answers - but only if we keep asking the questions- someone somewhere will listen. "Progress was never made by anyone afraid to take chances" - i live by others' wisdom- is one of my many favorite lights in the darkness.

Thanks for letting me know. I have gone through periods of severe itching (scalp and torso in particular) which have abated as suddenly as they started. I have no clue, but they sometimes go on for weeks or months and make me miserable. I have been guessing it's related to seasonal allergy, but cannot pinpoint anything in particular. Very frustrating. I will ask my derm about gabapentin!

@bayhorse, I have had oral lichen planus for years and been prescribed all the usual medications - Nystatin, Oracort, Prednisolone rinse, you name it. Nothing worked. Then an oral pathologist prescribed Lyderm gel. The package said “for external use only” and I was quite concerned so I asked my pharmacist whether it was safe to use internally and she said it is used off label for certain conditions. Well, ten days’ use later, my mouth cleared!

I feel medications are “body specific” - what works in one body does not in another. Gabapentin is an example - people take it for pain relief and it works for some. I have fibromyalgia and am in pain 24/7/365 and the scale goes up and down. You’d think Gabapentin (albeit not prescribed for pain in my case) would ease my pain, since it is also for pain relief but it has done absolutely nothing for my pain relief! If anything, the first night I had pain where I hadn’t felt pain in several months! But that first dose certainly eased off the itching enough to let me get a few more hours of sleep! I am hoping I will have total relief from itching in a few days!

What I am trying to say is, Gabapentin is working for my itching (I too had head and torso itching) but it may or may not for you. However, it is worth a try! The medication is affordable so even if one prescription fill does not work you will not be out as much money as some other medications - and it’s another thing you have tried. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I am in Ontario, Canada, and my vial of 90 capsules cost just $2.70 - the pharmacy fee was three times that cost, which is what jacked up the total!