Can Zantac Cause Itchy Skin
Office one in a New Serial: "Addressing MPN Symptoms"
by David Wallace
Background
A high percentage of polycythemia vera – MPN patients endure from Aquagenic Pruritus, a fancy clinical term for itching. Few patients presenting with itching are tested for PV, but it is a classic symptom that tags along with a host of other strange bed fellows including fatigue, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, cerise pare tone, gastro-intestinal problems, body pain, cognitive impairment and the listing goes on. In that location are few treatments for itching that are highly effective and provide consistent relief.
Itching may be caused or worsened past exposure to water without observable skin lesions. The symptoms may exist felt immediately after contact with water and may terminal an hour or longer. It generally occurs in the trunk and nearby extremities. Well-nigh patients describe itching, but others report a tingling, burning or stinging sensation.
The ravages of extreme itching can be so intense that a "fear of bathing" develops, creating a negative impact on quality of life and perchance less social engagement.
I take been involved in patients' discussions on this issue and it is very existent. This article will focus on itching and treatment, the driving mechanisms behind itching with word of other symptoms also. It is written from the patient perspective with medical commentary to follow.
A Personal Perspective
I was out of town for a medical procedure and packed my bags (and meds) methodically or so I idea. It was not until shower fourth dimension that I discovered I had forgotten my Atarax, likewise known as hydroxyzine, a drug I did non like to accept considering of the undesirable side furnishings, but used as a last resort. I shivered in nervous anticipation every bit I approached the shower the next morning knowing good and well I was helpless. Afterward, I suffered a frantic bout of itching with no relief in sight. Atarax is not a preventative treatment for itching at all, actually it just knocks yous out (information technology is besides prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks….go figure) afterward an episode has begun, so you don't feel the itching as much. This was going to be a miserable trip, like the BMB (os marrow biopsy) wasn't plenty….if I didn't come up with an alternative.
The Z and Z philharmonic (Zyrtec and Zantac), a lifesaver!!
👉 Zantac (ranitidine) nonetheless is no longer bachelor but another H2 blocker can be substituted: Pepcid (famotidine) is approximately 8 times more potent than Zantac. (Baronial 2020 update)
I was keeping a programme B tucked away to effort in a "intermission the glass emergency." It was so simple, information technology was hard to believe information technology might actually work. During one of our online discussions about furious bouts of itching (ii or 3 weeks prior to the trip), one of my friends, Roy Randall, reported great success using over the counter Zyrtec and Zantac. Other patients chimed in, sharing successful results from the combo. I fabricated a mental notation, I would accept to attempt this in a demark. The time is at present…
That afternoon, I loftier tailed it to Walgreens, bound and adamant to endeavor this mysterious philharmonic, practically unknown to the MPN world. I was already taking (one) 10 mg Zyrtec in the morning for allergies and added (two) 150mg Zantac to my routine, ane in the morn and one at dark. It provided itching relief quickly….during the adjacent several days my itching faded away, nigh 100%, I was saved from a pruitis meltdown!! Miraculous relief that I promise will be helpful to many young man MPN patients. It should be noted that generic versions Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Zyrtec) and Ranitidine (Zantac) tin can exist purchased from Costco or Walmart for a considerable disbelieve from the branded versions.
When I was having regular phlebotomies (before Pegasys/Jakafi handling), I noticed once my HCT rose to 42 or more, I become highly symptomatic and the itching creeps dorsum into the symptom equation (although to a bottom extent) regardless of the Z and Z combo.
The Z and Z combo'southward effectiveness in Mast Cell disorders is confirmed in William Alford's article:
"Patients with urticaria (hives) and mast prison cell disease are typically treated with various combinations of antihistamines which block histamine receptor sites on cells, with a fine-tuning of both dosage levels and drug choice frequently being very specific to the patient.A very successful choice is the well-known "ZZ" combo of Zyrtec and Zantac since this combination blocks both the H1 and H2 receptors. Other antihistamines include ChlorTrimeton, Benadryl, Dramamine, Claritin, and Tavist."
Annotation: Earlier taking any medications, even OTC, be sure to check with your md or pharmacist.
Here are more than strategies to Beat Itching in Polycythemia Vera.
Mast Cell Affliction and the Release of Histamines
Mast cells take long been known to contribute to the discomforts of flesh by releasing histamine and producing the miseries of allergies. Withal, patients with mast cell disease may besides nowadays with a multitude of disparate symptoms such as arthritis, GERD, constipation, malabsorption, cramping, severe intestinal bloating, short term retention problems, headache, nausea, os pain, centre palpitations, changes in cognitive role and mood and more. Sound familiar?….almost identical to the symptoms we experience equally MPN patients.Mastocytosis, i of the myriad of mast cell diseases are classified as an MPN, and so no surprise there!
Mast cell diseases are histamine disorders (exist sure to click on the preceding link and gyre down midway for the excellent graphic, Histamine Intolerance & Mast Jail cell Activation) that come in many flavors – mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) and mastocytosis (numerous types) amid others. Other conditions with a link to histamine/mast jail cell include: Fibromyalgia, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Narcolepsy, IBS, Crohn's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and heart disease.
Mast cell activation syndrome is a fancy mode of maxim the immune system is freaking out and dumping inflammation into the body, sometimes chronically.
While mast cells nowadays throughout the body, all body tissues that come in directly contact with the outside world have mast cells and they are concentrated in the skin, gut, nasal passages, lung, urinary tract and other mucus membranes.
With MPNs, we suffer with excess histamine due to basophil breakdown (a blazon of white blood jail cell). Histamine is 1 of the inflammatory players released past mast cells, along with heparin and serotonin. They likewise contain cytokines, interleukin, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and other inflammatory agents. The release of these proinflammatory agents results in the classic allergy symptoms which most of u.s. are familiar with.
However, the principle chemic mediator of mast cells is histamine which can cause tissue swelling, itching, flushing and other noxious peel responses. Information technology is what causes the itching and swelling of the mosquito seize with teeth and the itch of healing wounds with the rapid growth of new tissue. Only it can also cause systemic responses such as headache, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and can exist involved in other GI illness such every bit gastric ulcer and IBS.
The calorie-free has been shed on one of the key culprits in the circuitous universe of MPN symptoms. The graphic above provides a visual representation summarizing histamine-mediated symptoms. The discussion on itching just scratches the surface, no pun intended!
CLICK Hither to download PDF
Be certain to click here for the November 2019 update addressing the Zantac call up.
This article has a Part 2 with scientific caption on itching – "Mast Cell Mania" at the Root of many MPN Symptoms
Click on the image below for Part 2 in the "Mast Prison cell Mania" serial – Mast Cells and Histamine in MPN Related Itching Explained
Check out the entire serial (2020 update)
REFERENCES
(one) William Alford, "Mast Cells and GI Motility Disease, 2005" – Permission is granted by the writer for anyone to re-create and distribute this certificate to any other part so long every bit the writer'south name and the copyright find is retained on all copies or sections of the document.
(2) Wikipedia, mast prison cell.
(iii) Indian Journal of Dermatology,Aquagenic Pruritis: Beneath Water "Lies," 2011
(4) The Depression Histamine Chef, Yasmina Ykelenstam, "Natural Mast Cell Stabilizers for Histamine," 2016.
Source: https://www.pvreporter.com/otc-combo-zyrtec-zantac-helping-polycythemia-vera-patients-get-relief-itching/
Posted by: cobbcarnall.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Can Zantac Cause Itchy Skin"
Post a Comment