JustAnswer > Health
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Health

Ask a Health Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Health question?

11 Doctors and Nurses are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Health Question?

Related Health Topics:

  • Hot
  • ,
  • Dose
  • ,
  • Feet
  • ,
  • Side
  • ,
  • Time
  • ,
  • Error
  • ,
  • Hands
  • ,
  • Helps
  • ,
  • Right
  • ,
  • Think
Bookmark and Share

Question

Hello, After

Submitted: 478 days and 8 hours ago.
Category: Health
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Age: 35; Female, West Virginia

Already Tried:
After completing 4 cycles of Taxol chemo, my skin has begun an intense prickling and itching that stumps my oncologist. This itching is NOT topical, it is underneath my skin and quite intense, so much so that I can't sleep or use my hands or feet; it gets worse with increased activity. My oncologist has prescribed Cetirizine, Atarax, and Neurontin, none of which have even begun to work. I do have some numbness in the fingertips. Could I be stepping into menopause, and if so, is this what is called "formication"? Many thanks.

Accepted Answer

If the problem is affecting hands and feet then this is likely to be peripheral neuropathy which is a side effect of several treatments of Taxol. Neurontin usually helps but dose needs to be increased gradually with time to 600mg three times a day for many people. Did you try the Neurontin for a while?

 

If Neurontin has not helped then other treatments include amitriptyline or pregabalin. It is often trial and error until you find the right combination to relieve the symptoms.

 

Some people have suggested the supplement Glutamine but we have no clinical trial studies to say if it is truly effective.

 

I think this symptom is less likely to be menopausal, as usually we expect to see hot flushes initially with that.

Picture
Expert: Pauline
Pos. Feedback: 99.2 %
Accepts: 5257
Answered: 11/26/2008

Pharmacist

MRPharmS. Worked as Community pharmacist for 16 years. Undertaking a second degree in medicine.

+
Read More

Related Health Questions

  • I fnd myself drifting off and staring blankly many times ...
  • what does it mean when you may get your period every six mon...
  • How can i be sure I have IBS without goign to a doctor?
  • Hi,I am having problems with my lower right leg (about ...
  • albuterol side effects
  • I have a skin irriation on my abdomin. It looks ...
  • Could you please tell me what is the most effective and ...
  • I recently had sex for the first time. (im female) and we .....



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2010 JustAnswer Corp.