Formication agrevated when taking medication - Menopause Message Board

Live-Life-to-Love · 03-15-2006, 07:57 PM

I posted below about suddenly being allergic to Xanax. Now today I took Claritin for my seasonal allergies and had the same reaction. Just intense itchiness all over, no redness, no hives (knock. knock). Someone else had told me that when she takes ANY medication she gets itchy and it's a peri & menopausal thing called formication. Anyone else heard of this or had it happen to them.

I can't be allergic to Claritin AND Xanax....it doesn't make sense.

And I've had this itchiness on and off for two weeks now (not as intense as when I take medication) but maybe there's something to this formication idea.

deinee · 03-16-2006, 09:08 AM

Hi,
Is formication the crawly feeling you get like ants crawling under your skin? I get that on my face alot. I read somewhere that feeling comes from a decrease in the colagen(sp) in your skin. Another thing that loss of estrogen causes. I wish I could help you with why you are having so many problems with itchy skin and taking meds. I worry alot about developing problems with some of my meds too. I took Advil for months for TMJ problems and one morning out of the clear blue sky I got diarrhea and hives. I'm scared to try it again and it's been 2 years ago. Claritin is an antihistamine, that's what they use for hives! Is Benadryl any better for you? I guess you will have to use trial and error for awhile with different meds and see how it goes. Maybe this is one of those silly peri symptoms that will go away after awhile. Good luck. Ann One other thought, could it be a change in bath soap, laundry soap, dryer sheets anything like that you culd be coming in contact with? Our skin gets very sensative during peri.

cheer up · 03-18-2006, 06:37 PM

Age 56 here -- have had some generalized itching off and on for a couple of years. Usually it's when air is really dry and/or very hot.

My doctor (female, same age) said it's typical of menopausal years and beyond and said use lots of moisturizer. I found a big fat tube of creme with "Calming Creme" in the title. I think it's a Neutrogena item but can't recall offhand. Anyway, the term "Calming Creme" shows up in block letters on the tube. It's not super cheap, either, but it's thick and nice and did work for me. Good luck!

Live-Life-to-Love · 03-19-2006, 08:38 PM

I'm not in menopause yet...only through peri hell.

Anyone here in peri hell that can relate to me?

Thanks for the posts ladies...

ellenjean · 03-28-2006, 10:41 AM

Boy your "Peri hell" is the best term for what I feel. Every day it's something different. Heart palpatations, they stop then the cramping begins after that
IBD then low backache. Anxiety is about to make me shake out of my shoes. Then to top it all off the depression sets in. I don't feel like doing anything.
I go to work and come home. I am single and am alone most of the time and this doesn't help matters much. I wish all I had was night sweats and hot flashes, which are minimal because of HRT. Now I know why years ago they use to put women in insane asylums durning menopause.

Thanks for listening just needed to vent