Itching all over on aza

[kimmy86]

Hi everyone,

I have recently had my 1st resection and am recovering well. Before my surgery I had a stricture which was making me very ill I was put on azathioprine which held back a lot of my symptoms. I was told by the surgeon I would have to continue with it after surgery along with pentassa.

So..we FINALLY get a bit of sun and I am itching all over no rash but so itchy I could scream it's stopping me sleeping and driving me insane. I am due to go to Greece in 3 weeks were I will be in the sun a lot more! has anyone else suffered from the constant itching in the sun? Does it ever stop and does anything help because I will not enjoy my holiday itching like this!

I am very fair and very worried about the long term side effects of this drug especially skin cancers! Has anyone remained in remission while just on pentassa and not on azathioprine? It may hold my crohns back but I just fear the long term use will cause more harm than good xx

 

[jonathanzn]

i will put on imuran also, and i have the same question, could i use pentasa for remaining in remission in the future in stand of imuran because of its side effect?

 

[momoftwinboys]

My son is on aza and experienced the crazy itching you talk about while on vacation in Florida in December. No rash, could not sleep. If I remember correctly, dr said to avoid alot of sun exposure and use benedryl for itching. He went to Florida again for spring break. He used sun block and sun shirt/hat while out on the boat. Played golf, swam, boating/fishing, rode bikes...alot of outside time and the itchy thing did not occur. That was a relief it would not occur with every sun exposure. Hope you have a great time in Greece.

 

[deb123]

Hi Kimmy,

i suffered with light sensitivity with my skin when i was on azathioprine. I thought i had prickly heat, but no rash! I couldnt stop itching and pinching my skin. Piriton helps, but i always always use a good quality factor 50 now. I am of Indian origin and never burn in the sun, so this was an absolute pain for me.

 

[Trysha]

Hi Kimmy
I had the same rash with Aza you must keep out of the sun.
Benadryl will help---- that is what I was prescribed but the night time itch in my hands and soles of feet was unbearable. The dermatologist prescribed steroid cream which helped.
Finally I bought on her advice a very good moisturising cream which also helped.
I had to be taken off Aza since I had a very bad pain reaction to it.
Feel better soon
Hugs
Trysha

 

[BJ1996]

I've experienced this for many years. I saw a Dermatologist about it quite a long time ago, he confirmed that it was a photosensitivity from the drug. Taking antihistamine will provide a very mild benefit, but only if you take it before sun exposure, afterwards doesn't do much. You'll notice that it doesn't occur on areas of skin, such as hands and face, that are regularly exposed to sunlight. Hence, the only way I've found to deal with it is to progressively introduce sun exposure and build up resistance on other parts of the body. So at the start of each summer when you start wearing short sleeves, I will limit sun exposure at first and gradually build up. Sun screen makes no difference from the itchiness perspective, you need to be out of the sun or covered.