Itchy / tingly skin

[mrbarlow]

I am suffering from itchy / tingly skin all over at the moment. I am on interferon plus the usual bucket of supplements.

Any advice on how to reduce this? Whilst not intensely painful it is annoying to the point of distraction.

[LR1234]

Have your liver checked. I think itchy skin can be a sign of liver issues and with the interferon and supps this could be a reason for liver struggling.
(I had the itchy/tingly thing when liver was playing up....of course MS can do that to you too so I would get the blood tests just to check) x

[jimmylegs]

hey there, what's in your bucket, iima?

[mrbarlow]

hey there, what's in your bucket, iima?

Hi. If you mean supplements;

1 x iron free high strength MV
4000-6000iu Vit D plus Im in Saudi Arabia = sunshine!
500mg inosine
3x300mg omega 3
1x 500mg cod liver oil
600mg magnesium
1 x bcomplex & B12
15mg zinc
60mg resveretrol
60mg gingko biloba


Just to add itchy feelin far worse at end of day than beginning. I am wondering if its just tired and fatigued nerve endings playing up?

[Filmmaker]

probably fatigue, do you exercise a bit to help your lymphatic system move toxins out?

[mrbarlow]

probably fatigue, do you exercise a bit to help your lymphatic system move toxins out?

Lately I have been lazy. Also its getting into baking hot season here (Saudi) which makes gently outside walks uncomfortable.

Need to get to the pool.

Had a liver functions test yesterday so will see.

[Filmmaker]

Ppol is perfect for gentle exercise:-)

[tara97]

bile salts. i get that too. its liver issues.

[mrbarlow]

Been off Rebif for 8 days.

Generally feel good but major increase in itchy skin which has been a regular problem since diagnosis. I do wonder if high niacin levels are contributing. Having just checked my Multivit and B complex my daily intake is 60mg alone from supplements. Upper RDA for men is 35mg.

[jimmylegs]

mr, you could check folic acid in your b-complex. in my experience high folic acid levels due to a particularly high folic acid level in a supplement gave me an itch i could never quite scratch. really annoying!

[mrbarlow]

mr, you could check folic acid in your b-complex. in my experience high folic acid levels due to a particularly high folic acid level in a supplement gave me an itch i could never quite scratch. really annoying!

Thanks JL.

I am going to lay off the extra B vits for a few days and see if that helps. It would appear its not Rebif that causes this as I have been off it for 9 days.

[jimmylegs]

might be a good idea. question: how much total folic acid is in your daily b complex combined with the daily multi?

[mrbarlow]

might be a good idea. question: how much total folic acid is in your daily b complex combined with the daily multi?

400hg in each

[jimmylegs]

yea i got a bad reaction when my b-complex had 1000. so you're taking in 800, sounds close enough.

interestingly, after years of tweaking all my various levels i can now take a b-50 complex with 1000 units of folic acid, and i don't react so badly. i suspect my body has some previously missing ingredient that helps turn folic acid into something else rather that just having levels accumulate. pure conjecture i don't really know why it used to drive my levels up so high and now, not so much. at the time my folic acid went up to 2170 i think it was? with the top end of the normal range being 1800 or thereabouts.

[mrbarlow]

Thanks JL

Im going to stay off the B complex for a few days and just stick with B12 and whats in the MV.

However I have been in London today, after a few admin related things had lunch in a Lebanese Restaurant, Long walk around Hyde Park in the beautiful autumn sunshine, coffee and the train home.

Completely forgot about the MS and the itch is gone too