Does RA cause itching
I itch. It doesn't matter what time of year. I itch more at night than during the day.I have several different types of itching. I have aquagenic pruritus. There is no rash. I have bronchial puritus in one arm. Again no rash. I have general itching everywhere at all times but more at night. Its extremely annoying when the tip of my nose and my ear lobes start itching. Again absolutely no rashes. I was diagnosed with RA in 2017. I've been on MTX, Leflunomide and Sulfasazine, none of which worked. I am now on hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day and remicade infusions every 8 weeks. I still itch even after lathering on every type of moisturizer I can find. I take gabapentin 3 times a day, Hydroxyzine at night and cetirizine in the morning. I still itch and as my RA progresses so does the itching.
Hi,
!
Well, the good news is, you're not alone in dealing with the uncontrollable itch. The bad news is, yes, it can be related to RA. It sounds like you have tried a lot of things to try to manage the itch, so I am not sure I will have too many great tips to try. But, here's one contributor's experience with the RA itch and how she deals with it -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/xerosis. Also, here's a conversation from our forums on the topic of itching (especially with no presenting rash) -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/forums/odd-symptom-without-explanation. And, the double whammy of RA is that some of the medications used to treat RA can also cause dry skin, sun sensitivity, and itching! And, since pinpointing the cause of the itch can be hard (and may not always be a histamine response), it may be the reason why antihistamines and allergry meds don't seem to help. I would keep talking to your rheumatologist about the itch and keep trying to find a medication that can bring you some relief. I know it's exhausting and hard, but it's worth it if you can't get some relief.
Best, Erin, Team Member.
Hi
. I know how problematic these skin issues can be. My wife, Kelly Mack (a contributor here), has had a number of them, including a stint in the hospital from one. On top of the excellent information from Erin, I want to share with you this article from the Cleveland Clinic that notes that hydroxychloroquine can be a cause of aquagenic pruritus: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22516-aquagenic-pruritus. Also, are neck problems one of your RA issues? I ask because it seems that pinched nerves in the cervical area is one of the primary potential causes of brachioradial pruritus (see: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21181-brachioradial-pruritus). Of course, only a doctor can do the proper diagnostics, but hope this information can inform future discussions with your doctors. Best, Richard (Team Member)
