Has Anyone Had Skin Problems Such As Itchiness And Rashes?
I'm taking Mirepex and Sinemet and 2 years ago I developed itchy welts. It was diagnosed as Intertrigon (a fungal rash very common in Florida). I just about cleared that up and now I have Lichen Planus (itchy red bumps). The internet says it's an auto immune reaction. I'm using cortisone cream which doesn't work very well. Has anyone experienced this and, if so, how are you treating it? Do you think it's related to PD or the meds used to treat PD?
My mother was prescribed too much Carbidopa / Levodopa a.k.a. Sinemet at the outset of her diagnosis and she developed an allergic reaction to it that resulted in terrible rashes with debilitating itchy hives all over her body. After many efforts to find solutions, including holistic approaches, my sister solved the allergy by having her take Benserazide / Levodopa a.k.a. Madopar [Sold in Europe, shipped to the U.S. via Canada]. It cleared up the rashes while preserving the long-term health benefits of a parkinson's medication. Sometimes a slightly different take on a conventional approach can make a huge difference, especially with regards to allergic reactions.
Yes, after 4 dermatologists and 2 allergists, I finally got a diagnoses. It's an autoimmune skin disease called bullous pemphigoid. Supposedly common in older people. I'm down to 5 mg of prednisone but if I try and stop the small amount of prednisone, it comes back. I also take doxycycline - l00 mg. I'm trying to wean off that to see if it makes a difference. It was given to me to help the inflammation also. It was 8 months of sheer hell. They tell me 5 mg. of prednisone is nothing compared with starting at 60 mg. I'm not thrilled at having to take it but it's better than intense itching. I tried all kinds of creams but the only one that worked a little was one that contained prednisone. I can't remember the name but it began with beta...One of the dermatologists I saw diagnosed it but I went to the University of Miami to confirm it. If you need any additional info, let me know and I wish you luck.
Update on the rash...After 2 dermatologists and 2 allergists, I am back to derm #1 who took 3 more biopsies and one for cancer came back negative and the other 2 came back as eczema with possible cause as drug allergy based on pattern. On Thursday, I go back to derm #1 to find out what to do to help or stop. The only thing that seems to make it go away is prednisone. Once I stop taking prednisone, it comes back. However, prednisone is a drug I don't want to take long term. One allergist recommended taking Dupixent whereby I have to give myself injections 2x a month. Only known reaction: conjunctivitis. More to come....
@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member This is exactly what has happened to me. Derm#2 took a biopsy on Friday and I'm waiting to hear the results. First they thought it was scabies and dermatitis. Only prednisone helped a little. I also changed everything to no avail. She said the biopsy could tell me if it's an allergic rash and whether it's a med but not which med. Once I confirm that it's medicine, I will consult with internist first to change meds, then neuro if necessary. Hope it's not PD meds since changing meds causes me more problems. However, I can't live with this itching. My neuro says that he's only heard of PD skin problems with Roseacea. I'm sorry that you have this also but at least I feel vindicated. I think it's med related.
Instead of scratching my skin off, I use a damp wash cloth and rub rather than scratch. Hope that helps you.
My scalp itches like no tomorrow. I have tried different shampoos anti-itch products. This is good to know so I can see a dermatologist.
Phila
Theracycle
Is There A General Shortage Of Sinemet? Boots The Chemist Are Having Trouble Getting Them.