Question:
Hi there.... I'm writing to you in the hopes that you can help me :(
Summary: About 20 years ago I had surgery on my spine. I have
scoliosis and have had herrington rods since I was 16. I live a
completely normal lifestyle. I have 3 young children and I am
physically active. However, my neck muscles and left scapula muscles
give me a fair bit of grief if I over do it. So much so that this past
summer when I made the mistake of doing some water sports I later
suffered with tremendous pain. In September my doctor put me on 600 mg
of ibuprofen and I faithfully took this 3 times a day for months just
to manage my discomfort. After about 3 to 4 months I began to feel
fine and would generally limit myself to taking it once a day. In
total I've been on it for 8 months fairly steady. Around mid October I
began to develop very itchy skin in my groin area, arm pits, behind my
knees and in my elbow joints. It was tolerable at first but has become
increasingly difficult to ignore. I have been tested for: (yeast,
lice, scabies, allergies......) Nothing has relieved this itch.
Currently I am taking 10mg of Certizine daily and applying Aveeno
Anti-itch cream. In my pursuit to determine the cause of the itch I
had to look at everything I was eating or using in my daily life. The
ibuprofen was the only constant element. I have not taken it for close
to a month now and have seen no improvement. My question to you is: If
a person was allergic to ibuprofen ....is this a typical reaction? And
if so, generally how long should it take to work itself out of my
system?? I would appreciate any help or advice that you could
offer. I feel completely frazzled by this whole thing! Thanks for
listening,

Answer:
Hey a1logger, how are you doing? If you experience unexplained
bruising, skin rash or itching, swelling of the lips, mouth and throat
or breathing problems stop using ibuprofen immediately and consult
your doctor or accident and emergency department of your local
hospital as soon as possible. Long term use of ibuprofen in high doses
can result in kidney and liver toxicities. Best wishes,

Answer:
Thanks for your reply. I have seen my doctor many times about this
itching. He sent me to an allergist. He tested me for a variety of
things but said there's no test for ibprofen. He did however put me on
certizone to help relieve the itch until it is out of my system. Any
idea how long an itch like that could stay in my system???? At least
I'd know there's a little at the end of this tunnel!!! Thanks,
Anne-Marie

Answer:
Hey a1logger, how are you doing? Consult a regional poison control
center or local medical toxicologist (certified through the American
Board of Medical Toxicology or the American Board of Emergency
Medicine) for additional information and patient care recommendations.
Doses of 100 mg/kg or less of ibuprofen, the most widely utilized
NSAIDs, generally cause minimal symptoms; life-threatening situations
typically occur with ingestions of 400 mg/kg or more. Prolonged
microscopic bleeding can lead to massive losses of iron and subsequent
anemia. Once a bleeding site is identified, numerous therapies are
available to stop the bleeding. Best wishes,

Answer:
I'm confused. I'm not bleeding.....I'm incredibly itchy and have
been for months. And I'm wondering if it is caused by the ibuprofen.
Anne-Marie

Answer:
Hey a1logger, how are you doing? Pruritis actually means itching
without visible lesions on the skin. Local or general itching when it
is due to disease is usually more intense and persistent. Itching
usually accompanies jaundice and may be symptoms of diabetes, anemia,
leukiemia, many forms of carcinoma, gout, and of all fungal skin
infections as well as a reaction to certain foods and drugs. It is
importnant to be aware of gastrointestinal bleeding (caused by NSAID
toxicity), because it may herald many significant diseases and
conditions. Best wishes,

Answer:
My doctor ordered blood tests and these all came back normal. That
should rule out many of those serious diseases. Do you think it is
more likely an allergic reaction?? If so, is it possible to be itchy
for months????

Answer:
Hey a1logger, how are you doing? Gastrointestinal bleeding is
diagnosed by the health care provider -- the person may or may not
have been aware of its presence. Diagnostic tests may include CBC,
clotting tests (PT, PTT, INR), platelet count, and other laboratory
tests, abdominal MRI scan, or abdominal CT scan or abdominal X-ray.
Best wishes,

Answer:
Itching is not a typical reaction of being allergic to Ibuprofen. Your
labs came back normal which is great. You have obviously kept track of
what you are eating to rule out anything unusual there - unless you
have recently become allergic to a specific food and just don't know
it yet. I wonder also if it's something as simple as your clothing
soap or fabric softener? People can use products for years and
suddenly become allergic to them. Note that your main areas of itching
involve joints and moist areas. (that's what makes me wonder about the
soaps, etc.) Or, maybe your medications are dehydrating you a bit. Try
increasing your intake of water. Use a non-scented moisterizer for
your skin. Have you tried Benedryl?

Answer:
You know...I really have been trying everything I can think of. In the
beginning I thought for sure it was my detergent or shampoo ...I've
always used very mild soaps.....and have since switched several times.
It's extremely frustrating and pretty hard to not scratch. I did see
an allergist 3 weeks ago and I tested negative for everything he tried
( foods, pets, pollen.) I'm pretty much at my wits end and that's why
I figured I would post this message in the hopes somebody or some
doctor would have the answer :o) It's a slow form of torture! Thanks
for your concern.

Answer:
Sorry. Forgot to answer your question about the Benedryl. I have tried
it and it makes me very sleepy. I have 3 children and it just wipes me
out. The Reactine helps enough to minimize the itch but it always
comes back!!!

Answer:
Hey a1logger, how are you doing? Take lukewarm baths using little
soap and rinsing thoroughly. Try a skin-soothing oatmeal or cornstarch
bath. Allergic reactions are not uncommon. In fact, the immune
response that causes an allergic reaction is similar to that which
causes hayfever. While first-time exposure may only produce a mild
reaction, repeated exposures may lead to more serious reactions. Once
a person is sensitized (has had a previous sensitivity reaction), even
a very limited exposure to a very small amount of allergen can trigger
a severe reaction. Watch for signs of increasing distress, as
anxiety can worsen symptoms. The management of pruritus relies heavily
on establishing the cause and then either removing or treating the
cause to prevent further itching. In many cases, tests are
necessary to determine the cause; while these are in progress,
treatment to provide symptomatic relief of pruritus may be given.
Fingernails should be kept short and clean. If the urge to scratch
is irresistible then rub the area with your palm. If pruritus is
severe and sleep is disturbed, then treatment with oral medication may
be necessary. Menthol/camphor lotion: gives a chilling sensation.
Ointments are the most occlusive, and include pure oil preparations
such as equal parts of white soft and liquid paraffin or petroleum
jelly. Best wishes,

Answer:
You could try taking the Benedryl only at night. I have small children
also and I know what you mean by being tired!!! Have you had bloodwork
done? In some cases, the itching can mean a liver, kidney or blood
disorder.