11 replies to this topic

[sentrysnipe]

Greetings, earthlings.

I've been suffering from hives since 6th grade. It comes and goes, but lately, when I tried taking Vitamin in higher doses (4800 IU/day - not that high still, it's only been 2 months since I started such high dose), it has gotten worse, having swollen lips three times in a row now. Scary ghastly sight. The third time I had it, I took B12 (sublingual) and the swelling disappeared like in 1 minute (amazing!).

Now what I don't understand is the bad reaction I'm having from Vitamin D despite the relatively normal dose for a daily intake. I drink milk twice or thrice a day with 400 IU D3 per serving so that doesn't explain the hives and itching.

I can't sleep well at night, my feet are itching without any rashes, hives, bumps, blemishes, fungi, etc. And this began when I started taking Vit D. I don't want to stop taking it because I've been avoiding the sun for 2 years straight now. I'm tan as it is so I really don't need more rays to begin with.

I tried taking Butterbur for the hives but it doesn't work consistently. 1) I need suggestions for the hives. Embarrassing to have red patches on my arms when someone pinches me at the slightest touch.

2) Is there anything I could take for the itching? What is this? Sometimes it's isolated to the feet, other times it's all over the body. It's unbearable and I can't explain it. 3) And what could this be and why am I having such bad reaction from the D3 dose?

THANK YOU!

[nameless]

Happen to be allergic to fish? Vitamin D could be cod liver derived, possibly. Although I think most are lanolin-based.

Or maybe the vitamin D = improved immune system = more histamine & allergic response?

Does allergy medicine help the hives/itching at all?

[sentrysnipe]

Not allergic to fish...
2) Well yeah but I have to block the histamines, :( actually, I can manage the hives, it's the itching that I can't live with.
Haven't tried any Rx for this yet. I've talked to my pcp, he said use topicals like benadryl or lanacane. I want to try lanacane - regarding OTCs... which works better hydrocortisone creams or anesthetics (like lanacane)?

[nameless]

If the itching is due to an allergic reaction, I'm not sure a topical will really get to the root of the issue. The topicals may help symptoms some though.

A good antihistamine taken daily could help, although unfortunately the best ones also tend to make people sleepy.

[niner]

Greetings, earthlings.

I've been suffering from hives since 6th grade. It comes and goes, but lately, when I tried taking Vitamin in higher doses (4800 IU/day - not that high still, it's only been 2 months since I started such high dose), it has gotten worse, having swollen lips three times in a row now. Scary ghastly sight. The third time I had it, I took B12 (sublingual) and the swelling disappeared like in 1 minute (amazing!).

Now what I don't understand is the bad reaction I'm having from Vitamin D despite the relatively normal dose for a daily intake. I drink milk twice or thrice a day with 400 IU D3 per serving so that doesn't explain the hives and itching.

I can't sleep well at night, my feet are itching without any rashes, hives, bumps, blemishes, fungi, etc. And this began when I started taking Vit D. I don't want to stop taking it because I've been avoiding the sun for 2 years straight now. I'm tan as it is so I really don't need more rays to begin with.

I tried taking Butterbur for the hives but it doesn't work consistently. 1) I need suggestions for the hives. Embarrassing to have red patches on my arms when someone pinches me at the slightest touch.

2) Is there anything I could take for the itching? What is this? Sometimes it's isolated to the feet, other times it's all over the body. It's unbearable and I can't explain it. 3) And what could this be and why am I having such bad reaction from the D3 dose?

THANK YOU!

Your D doses seem high. 400 IU D3 per serving is very high for milk, unless a serving is about a quart. 4800 IU is a large dose for supplemental D. You could probably cut that in half and be fine, especially if you aren't getting your levels checked. You could stop the supplemental D (not to mention the super-fortified milk) for a while and see if your condition improves. If it does, you might try a different brand of supplemental D. Treatment-wise, you would probably have the best results with a topical steroid. Hydrocortisone is pretty weak, but you could start there. What do you mean by "red patches on my arms when someone pinches me at the slightest touch"? Histamine reaction?

[sentrysnipe]

*** Erratum: 100 IU D3 per serving of milk. Label says 25% of DV which (400 IU is the US RDA for Vit D3 SORRY!)

No, I don't think it's high AT ALL. A 30-minute sun exposure yields roughly 10,000 IU of D3. Considering that I always wear sunblock and really don't sun bathe and stay out of the sun for 2 long years upwards, I don't even think 4800 + 200 IU (I don't drink fortified milk everyday) is enough. 5000 IU is the upper limit for my weight bracket recommended by the Vitamin D council so what gives?

[nameless]

Go by serum levels. 4800 D3 may be just fine for you... or not. 4000IU brings my D levels to around 50 (during winter) but for some that could be too much. Without serum tests you really have no idea.

[tham]

It's just a simple solution of reducing your D3 dosage actually.

Otherwise :

The old tricyclic antidepressant, doxepin. Also available
as a cream. Wished they marketed it here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxepin

http://www.rxmed.com...Z)/ZONALON.html

http://www.aaaai.org...chive/itch.html

http://www.patient.c...owdoc/30002076/

http://www.rxlist.co...udoxin-drug.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/17925991

Register to view this :
http://www.medscape....warticle/457930

[tham]

Second and third generation antihistamines, though
many are not available in the US. I used to see azelastine
nasal sprays here some years ago, but not longer.

Azelastine, normally as a nasal spray, but also in tablets.
Acrivastine (Semprex), quite popular here in the 80s/90s.
Bepotastine
Ebastine

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) - this didn't work for my brother when
he had an urticaria attack some years ago, though. He had
to see the doctor who gave him what I think was a steroid
jab, plus some tablets, one of which looked like Piriton,
or chlorpheniramine.

Fexofenadine - You can get this there.
Desloratidine (Aerius)
Levocetirizine (Xyzal) - just approved over there.


http://www.medicalne...icles/72547.php

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Fexofenadine

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Bepotastine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebastine


Levocitirizine looks the drug of choice.


http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum


The Spanish antihistamine, rupatadine, looks quite promising.

http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Rupatadine

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

[Joey]

Greetings, earthlings.

I've been suffering from hives since 6th grade. It comes and goes, but lately, when I tried taking Vitamin in higher doses (4800 IU/day - not that high still, it's only been 2 months since I started such high dose), it has gotten worse, having swollen lips three times in a row now. Scary ghastly sight. The third time I had it, I took B12 (sublingual) and the swelling disappeared like in 1 minute (amazing!).

Now what I don't understand is the bad reaction I'm having from Vitamin D despite the relatively normal dose for a daily intake. I drink milk twice or thrice a day with 400 IU D3 per serving so that doesn't explain the hives and itching.

I can't sleep well at night, my feet are itching without any rashes, hives, bumps, blemishes, fungi, etc. And this began when I started taking Vit D. I don't want to stop taking it because I've been avoiding the sun for 2 years straight now. I'm tan as it is so I really don't need more rays to begin with.

I tried taking Butterbur for the hives but it doesn't work consistently. 1) I need suggestions for the hives. Embarrassing to have red patches on my arms when someone pinches me at the slightest touch.

2) Is there anything I could take for the itching? What is this? Sometimes it's isolated to the feet, other times it's all over the body. It's unbearable and I can't explain it. 3) And what could this be and why am I having such bad reaction from the D3 dose?

THANK YOU!

Several years ago, for the first time ever, I suffered from an extreme form or urticary & itching caused by any type of food. It started moderately but became extreme because the treatments tried by my GP (antihistamines) where only providing brief relief of symptoms without touching the root cause. A dermatologist provided the long term cure: a 10 day course of Prednisone pills on a decreasing dosage from day 1 to day 10.
Regarding vitamin D supplementation there seems to be a range in dosage which is beneficial. Below that range it may be inefective & above it could be detrimental. That range is probably different for each individual based in particular on the current level of of the vitamin at the cellular level. And that level is not accurately measured by the levels measured in blood. So trial & error may be the way to find out what works in your case. Here is the experience of an elderly MD self medicating with vitamin D for muscular pain:
http://www.drmirkin....zine041909.html

[sentrysnipe]

Thank you, Joey. I have recently discovered the wonders of topical anesthetics and it's doing well. I have a spray on anesthetic from Target in low concentrations which is quite effective.
Thank you for the insightful D link.

[Joey]

Thank you, Joey. I have recently discovered the wonders of topical anesthetics and it's doing well. I have a spray on anesthetic from Target in low concentrations which is quite effective.
Thank you for the insightful D link.

A word of caution:
If the topical ointments you use contain cortisone they could cause a permanent thinning of the skin after long term administration.