Brachioradial pruritus. (severe itching on forearms and neck, no rash).

Hi - I currently take amitriptyline 10 mg at bedtime and keep cold sleeves in the freezer to wear when necessary. I moisturize with Sarna (doesn't seem to do much) and use sunscreen and SPF clothing when sun exposure is suspected. I definitely think the suns rays make it worse. Mine is always worse at night. You?

This condition sound s similar to Aquagenic Pruritus and Cold Pruritus...so maybe Beta Alanine, an otc amino acid supplement, may work and kill the itch like it does for the majority of sufferers…
I buy the NOW brand from Amazon and take 750 mg every four hours as needed, 1500 mg before a trigger(shower is the biggest)…been taking for over 7 years and could not live without…

BA is typically used as a preworkout supplement and is used at higher doses…taking too much can cause tingling on the skin, so start slow.

I've been reading about Beta Alanine and am going to give it a try. Thanks!

I am writing this for my wife since in addition to BRP she has lost her sight. For years she went to a Dermatologist in NYC. We live in NJ. He prescribed everything and noting worked., Doing some research on our own she found that using Capzacin HP -I think thats how it is spelled. it relieves the itch but it also burns. To ease the burning she uses EBANOL - which folks use when getting tattoos. It is a deadening creme. We purchase it on Amazon. Un fortunately the manufacturer of Capzacin HP no longer manufactures it. They now make a Capzacin which is not as strong. So she does what she can. She has been suffering from BRP for at least 20 years. Saw many Dermatologists, Allergist and a Neurologist who did not believe what the dermatologist wrote explaining that the BRP could be a neurological issue. Also saw an Acupuncturist, Had light treatments, gee what else? She did take the amitriptyline but in a lotion. She was told not to take it in pill form. B ut as a loltion it is a compound and after afew m onths the plan would noot pay for it as a compound. Price ranged from 600-700) per refill. BThe real reason is the compund - I myself have had 2 prescrikptions which were compounds and the plan would not pay for them.,

Did you try beta alanine? Did it work for you?

I lived with it for thirty horrible years before I stumbled on this ...crush an aspirin into fine powder and mix with an equal amount of hydrocortisone cream and a drop or two of water.Rub it in good...it usually works for me within ten minutes but sometimes takes a second or even third application.It has never failed me in 15 years.

Recent research shows that BRP may be herpetic. Treatment with valacyclovir has successfully reduced recurrence of BRP to 0 in case studies. It may be worth checking about this with your doctor. Show them the following research and see if you can get on a valacyclovir regimen. I'm doing this right now. Since I started the treatment weeks after the itch began, it's probably too late to expect it to treat this episode, but it should reduce or eliminate the recurrence of BRP in the future. By the way, this is the same treatment used for cold sores, which is also herpetic. doi for research study: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000204606

I struggled with this a couple years ago (R upper arm, def exacerbated by sun) and chiropractic manipulation (I saw an Atlas Orthogonal who used and activator, no manual manipulation) worked in very few sessions. My chiropractor had not heard of it but I printed the one study I could find and did his thing. It stayed gone for well over a year but it seems to have just returned. I was pleased, upon googling, to find many, many more articles/case studies on successful treatment with chiropractic and recommend to everyone to try this very conservative treatment.

Thank you. It certainly seems obscure to most doctors….anyway, thank you for your thoughts and experience. I would love it if you could send me a couple of links to studies that most illuminated you about it. I mean, post links here and I will get them.
It does seem to be connected to the spine in the neck although apparently people do not feel pain in the neck. But the vertebrae compress with time, likely a factor for me, as I will be 80 soon and have osteoporosis although have managed it with stretches, PT, manual work (especially cranial sacral), careful diet and exercise. But these things do catch up with us over time so it sometimes seems like a full-time job staying alive (and well as can be). Cheers!

I rite this for my wife who is now nearly blind. She has been suffering from BRP for a good 20 years. Maybe a bit more. Went to a few Dermatologists, allergists, neurologist - wo po pooed the Dermatologist suggestion that it could be a compression in the spine. I believe disc 5-6.. NO one can help. She stopped going to a Dermatologist after about 10 years. he was in another state, tops in his field but could not help. She came across a possible treatment - Capsacin HP. And also uses it with a numbing creme _Embrel. Only thing that relieves the itching - never cures it. She tried acupuncture, light treatments - nothing . I think years ago there was a company in Denmark I think. they were working on something. Never found out what happened.