Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading posts here while suffering in silence for the past 6 months. I’ve spent $1,000+ on supplements, vitamins, remedies, etc. I received no relief from any of them. Like many of you, I break out in hives and my skin burns, like I walked into a cactus with acid needles, any time I get excited, nervous, or exercise, shower, go into a warm room, etc. It’s been horrible and I’ve wanted to cry because I cannot live a normal life.
Fortunately, I went and saw an allergist. The allergist confirmed what I already knew, cholinergic urticaria. She prescribed hydroxyzine, which is an antihistamine that blocks H1 receptors. This slightly worked for the nervousness hives, but none else. Two weeks later, she doubled my dose since it wasn’t working. That made me drowsy while experiencing hives.
Then relief came. I’m going to share this, as I’m surprised that I had an absolutely normal day without any hives or burning skin. However, I’m not promoting this or suggesting that you should try it because everyone’s body is different, and I’m not a medical professional (talk to your doctor to see if it’s safe for you).
Now that’s out the way, fed up with the hydroxyzine double dose drowsiness, I remembered a recent conversation with a brainiac biologist that said that taking hydroxyzine was the wrong route as low H2 blockers are known to spread throughout the body and are more effective. Long story short, I went to the pharmacy and got some Zantac. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had hope.
Well, hope was good to me because today was my first day without any CU effects all day! Tomorrow, I’m going to call my allergist and tell her about it to ensure that she’s okay with me taking both or, if I should just switch to Zantac. I’m tired of drowsiness, burning skin, and hives. I pray that I’ve found a path back to normalcy.
In conclusion, this is my experience. I am in no way promoting this method. Just sharing the information to find out if anyone has had this outcome and also let you know that there is hope. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that Day-2 and so on continue the same trend.
Good luck!
-H2Blocker
Stacey Herbert says
I suffer with chronic hives my doctor said not to treat the hives but to look at the system before the hives and to deal with that prescribed Danazol has worked but will get a mild hive. Hope this helps. You are not alone.
Anonymous says
How many pills of hydroxyzine are you taking?
H2Blocker says
I was taking 3/day. It wasn’t working so my allergist doubled it to 50mg/3xday. That still didn’t work good enough so I started with the Zantac. I haven’t seen a hive since writing this post.
Dom says
Do you take both Zantac and hydrozine ?
H2Blocker says
Yes, I both throughout the day. I went back to my allergist yesterday for follow-up and she approved and told me I can take both at the same time to simplify. No appointments for 3 months, unless there are any issues. I’m optimistic. Still no hives since posting this.
Dom says
That’s awesome!!! I just started that combo and am having some luck as well. I’m still getting attacks but not as server and most of the time with out any visable hives just itching . What dosages of the two meds are you taking and how many each day?
H2Blocker says
Glad to hear. That’s what happened to me with the hydroxyzine. My episodes were less severe but still horrible, unfortunately. I’m prescribed for 6 hydroxyzine 25/day & take 3 Zantac 150/day. The biologist I spoke of told me to take Tagament which is another H2 blocker but I’m having such success with this that I’m not going bother. CU is such a strange condition. Certain things work for certain people. I started feeling like a lab rat trying to find anything that would work lessen my CU symptoms. Good luck, and always talk to your doctor before trying medication.
Adrian says
Hi,
What I’ve found is Antihistamines work for many, for me I had to take 180mg each morning, It worked for a bit, but then kinda stopped.
Beer eliminated them just like that. (no good if you have a wheat/barley allergy though)…but it comes back once the alchohol wears off and codeine levels get back to normal. But at least if it works for you, you get some sleep.
After about a month, I tried a routine. It worked. This is what I did:
1. Bought a huge tube of E45 and carried it everywhere. Any itch anywhere got a splat of the stuff.
2. Took the antihistamine 120mg as instructed each day…plus an extra 60mg.
3. Slurped down 3/4 cups of green tea a day.
4. Changed clothes twice a day.
5. Drank about 2 litres of water a day.
6. Washed bedding twice a week without powders or liquids
7. Didn’t drink any alcohol (even though it helps) for a week just to reboot the system. But still went out as normal.
**Be careful with the green tea – some people get hives from caffeine. So possibly try caffeine free. Always non bleaced bags.
**Be careful with alcohol – if it doesn’t help, its not for you, and moderation is the key.
For me, I reckon its anxiety. for others, it could be heat, allergies to shellfish, alcohol, caffeine, avocados believe it or not, or a host of other things. Apparently there’s 90 or so types of urticaria, which is why one fix doesn’t fix all.
Hope this helps