Ribaviran Rash

[AngelswatchingU2]

I have been on treatment for 4+ months, virus load over 5 milloins.   In December doc said virus had cleared my body. I have since devoloped a rash last month. Extremly itchy skin with some things that look like welts.
Any body else experience this? What is the secret to getting rid of it? I have tried benadryl, all kinds of lotions, cold showers all help a little but still wake up from scratching.

[meakea]

This issue is very fresh in my mind because I just went through it.  My rash/itch started at about week 12 and it was horrible through about week 18.  What I finally figured out for myself is that I believe my rash was mostly caused by my interferon shot.  My rash was not raised and it was more just a matter of ALL of my skin all over my body being hot, red and angry looking and it hurt to even have clothes touch it...and it itched like crazy.  I started noticing a pattern to my rash...it would get worse over the weekend (my shots were on Friday night) and by the next Thursday it started getting better...then I took another shot on Friday and it got worse over the weekend again.

So, I did some research and found that some people do have a skin sensitivity to the interferon and they should take benadryl 1/2 hour PRIOR to their shot and for those that have a skin sensitivity to the riba, they should take benadryl 1/2 hour prior to taking their riba.  This helps avoid an allergic reaction.

Even though I have gotten my rash under control with the benadryl I still use the lotions mentioned my others above...I believe they help too.  

I notice that you said you tried benadryl but I believe it's the TIMING of when I take it that is why it is helping me -- by taking it prior to my shot and I also take it prior to my riba.  Before I figured this out, I was taking benadryl when I was already itching and it helped some but not like it does when I take it prior to the meds.

By the way...I use the children's liquid benadryl because it's easier to take a smaller dose when I want to.  I typically don't need a very large dose of any med otherwise I get side effects (like drowsiness).

Good luck to you!  I know how awful the rash/itch can be!!!  

[Deb_c430]

also use cool water, same with hair, careful of products and hair dryers. Hot water dries you out, I use almond oil,  it is a local product. Finish it up with gold bond ultimate, not the green,  it has aloe and works well for me.   Weather also can affect your skin, i live in a very dry climate,  so spend a lot of time on my skin, try a humidiefier if this is the case for you.  

There is a product called sarna also,  it is eucalyptus, camphor, some don't like the smell,  I like the smell. but some don't. I use that when it is out of control!

Good luck Deb

[Marcia2202]

I use organic body butters... no chemicals... It keeps my skin as moist as possible under the circumstances and there are no chemicals to aggravate it even more. Also I drink about 4 liters of water a day. I have noticed that the drier the skin the more it itches. Also the cold aggravates the itch. Hot showers are the most calming for me, but I know that for others it is cold showers. So I guess one has to try out several things.

I make sure to slather on the body butter when my skin is still moist after the shower, as that locks in moisture.

It has never become that bad that I needed medication for it, so I don't know anything about that...

[Ricki62]

I have also been on treatment for 4+ months and also developed a terrible rash all over except my feet and head area.  I was miserable and they gave me a week of steroids (which almost drove me out of mind).  This was after several weeks of antihistamines which didn't work.  The steroids did get the rash under control. It is much better now but it took a lot of experimenting.  I am now taking 2 antihistamines (hydroxyzine & xyal) everyday and a low dose of xanax plus my doctor just recommended Aquaphor (a vaseline like cream over the counter) to use at night because it's so thick and greasy and I use Gold Bond during the day. My new development is peeling eyelids, eyebrows and some peeling around the front of my hairline so I use the Aquaphor at night on these areas.  Hope this helps!!  

[Proactive]

10 months post and I still can't spell......LOL!)

[Proactive]

You might think about buying a humidifier....or putting a pot of water on the woodstove...;^) The neds dry you out beg time...and of course, drink plenty of water.....Pro

[PegOnPeg]

This is my most recent batlle..many sides have already come & gone....I'd only had the rash flair up about 4 weeks ago...NYGirl swore by Gold Bond Triple Anti-Itch..on it's own, it did nothing for me.  I talked to my NP...she suggested Claritin & anti-itch sprays, like benadryl, which is pricey, but my ins. pays for this stuff. I started this regimen about a week ago. Finally, just over the past couple days, the welts are going down & the itch is backing off...hubby says I don't scratch while I'm asleep...as soon as I feel itchy, I pop a claritin....riba rash is the worst possible side I could get...I don't do well @ not scratching. So, now I do claritan, benadryl spray & the Gold Bond, since I already had it in the house...