But you wouldn't double up on Benadryl, right? Like, take two Benadryl and use the cream? Or take another Benadryl?

I had the sense to look at the directions on the Benadryl lotion that said Do Not Use With Oral Benadryl before I slathered any on. The Aveeno Hydrocortisone came me enough temporary relief until the Benadryl and Claritin kicked in.

Wow, my typing has gone to hell. Y'all would not believe how much backspacing and editing I am doing

Allergy meds make me inept even if they don't knock me out.

I'm so amused that my wee little Pumpkin-cat is snoring behind my knees. She's such a delicate little thing, even when she's death-defying, but she's a snorty-mc-snorer.

But you wouldn't double up on Benadryl, right? Like, take two Benadryl and use the cream? Or take another Benadryl?

I probably would, although I wouldn't have guessed that the Benadryl lotion would say to not use it with oral Benadryl. (I tend to think not much drug is systemically absorbed through the skin, but perhaps I should read labels more closely.)

When, in some twist of human biology that I should no longer be surprised at, I had an allergic reaction to freaking vitamin D supplements, it made me itchy all over, and Awesome Doctor told me about Zantac being helpful for cutaneous reactions.

Oh gosh, Steph, could you tell me a little more about this? I've had a sudden resurgance of the horrible symptomless itch, and I was suspicious that it was the new Vitamin D supp I was taking, but I didn't think it was actually possible to be allergic to Vitamin D.

I was taking (I think) 400 IU a day, and after a week or 2, I got really flushed and itchy and red all over. I hadn't introduced any other new food, medication, laundry detergent, etc., so I'm 99% sure it was the vitamin D. I have no idea what the mechanism of action was to trigger the reaction, but it lasted for a couple of weeks even after I stopped taking it (I assume because it's a fat-soluble vitamin, so you don't just pee out the excess).

I had something similar happen when I was taking various supplements for migraines--turns out magnesium can make you very itchy. Not an allergy, just a side effect.

It also says not to use on large areas of the body, which I was totally gonna do because large areas were itching.

IIRC, one of my friends was on a mag drip when she was hospitalized for the last couple months or so of her pregnancy (placenta previa.) The itching was epic, she begged for soft things she could rub on her skin that would "scratch" the itch, but not actually scratch her. Didn't help with the inside itching though.

remember if you end up at the ER -- they are using a lot more Benadryl then the packaged amount. I think my sister was taking the max does when she found out she was allergic to penicillin - and walking and talking fine. When yo need the drugs they have huge amount going into matt when he has had reaction lots of h2 and H1 blocker ( that is your Zantac) .

In my search for what causes the awful itch, I've discovered that almost everything can make you itchy.

Yeah, plus right now there is zero humidity, so I feel like a lizard anyway, which is a baseline level of itchy. ANNOYING.

Yeah, plus right now there is zero humidity, so I feel like a lizard anyway, which is a baseline level of itchy. ANNOYING.

Oh yeah. Dry winter skin is my FAVORITE.