Solutions for Hives?

[SweetErika]

My guy has a terrible case of delayed onset hives from a medication. It's not an emergency (though we're watching for signs), he's let his doctor know and is currently taking OTC Benadryl and Zantac, as well as topical Benadryl and hydrocortisone. We may add Zyrtec to the mix since the Benadryl is pretty sedating during the day.

Still, he's terribly uncomfortable with wheals all over his torso, neck, swollen hands and feet. And apparently the medication he was on has a long half-life, so the hives could be here for awhile.

Does anyone have experience treating severe hives? Are there some comfort measures (besides keeping the skin cool) or really good home remedies that we're missing?

 

[Le Jacquelope]

I can't claim credit for this but on someone else's advice I tried vitamin C years ago to deal with severe hives and it lessened the agony for me. I can afford good medicine now but here's a site that also advises vitamin C if "good medicine" isn't good enough:

http://www.beautytips.ayurvediccure.com/skin-problem/hives.htm

 

[southernsky]

Aveeno makes an oatmeal bath that may help. Also, I'd check out Young Living essential oils, i think they may have something for itching or skin irritation. Their oils are expensive, but usually do exactly what they say they're going to do.

 

[dashd]

Sounds like he needs a medrol dose pack or tapering doses of any steroid. Vistaril or atarax (hydroxyzine) is less sedating than beadryl A shot of cortisone wouldn't hurt either... see me in the office between 12 and 4 and I'll fix u right up.

On the other hand... a good dose of caffiene with that benadryl may speed up the metabolism to help the benafryl work faster and avoid the drowsiness it causes.

 

[Saucyminx]

And believe it or not--have him drink lots and lots of water. It will speed getting the meds out of his system and staying hydrated does seem to help the itch a little bit. I had all over hives from a hair-dye allergy. They are miserable. My sympathies, and wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[Eilan]

I discovered in the spring that I'm allergic to flax, and I spent a week being red, swollen, and miserable while it worked its way out of my system.

I don't really have much to add to what you've been doing or the advice you've been given (BTW--I found the Aveeno oatmeal bath to be a godsend).

*sends healing vibes to SweetErika's hubby*

 

[SweetErika]

Sounds like he needs a medrol dose pack or tapering doses of any steroid. Vistaril or atarax (hydroxyzine) is less sedating than beadryl A shot of cortisone wouldn't hurt either... see me in the office between 12 and 4 and I'll fix u right up.

On the other hand... a good dose of caffiene with that benadryl may speed up the metabolism to help the benafryl work faster and avoid the drowsiness it causes.

I took him to a 24hr urgent care at 3am, and the doc put him on a 5-day course of prednisone and told him to continue the benadryl along with it.

I haven't talked to him for a couple of hours, but he was feeling a little better when he got up this morning, and at least we were both able to get some sleep.

He'll be thrilled with the caffeine idea, I'm sure. He's been trying to get down to a more reasonable amount, but it is his drug of choice.

And believe it or not--have him drink lots and lots of water. It will speed getting the meds out of his system and staying hydrated does seem to help the itch a little bit. I had all over hives from a hair-dye allergy. They are miserable. My sympathies, and wishes for a speedy recovery.

Yep, I'm on board with that, and so is he, since the benadryl dries him out so much.

I discovered in the spring that I'm allergic to flax, and I spent a week being red, swollen, and miserable while it worked its way out of my system.

I don't really have much to add to what you've been doing or the advice you've been given (BTW--I found the Aveeno oatmeal bath to be a godsend).

*sends healing vibes to SweetErika's hubby*

A flax allergy would suck! Our new favorite healthy bread is mostly flax.

I got about 10 hives this summer after eating a bunch of fresh pineapple, and that was misery enough for me to sympathize. They were like huge mosquito bites that wouldn't quit itching no matter what I tried. I feel terrible for the people who get them regularly.

We'll have to give the oatmeal bath a shot. Hubby made the mistake of taking a bath last night (over my objections), but a tepid oatmeal bath would probably help a lot between steroid doses.

 

[Eilan]

A flax allergy would suck! Our new favorite healthy bread is mostly flax.

Flax is in so much, too. I'm already a label-reader, so it's just one more thing to look for. . .