Which drugs cause itching

Chemotherapeutic and biological agents that can cause pruritus include:. The cessation of the causative drug is an immediate priority [1,4—6]. Treatment depends on how the causative drug triggered the itching and its severity.

See smartphone apps to check your skin. Books about skin diseases Books about the skin Dermatology Made Easy book. DermNet NZ does not provide an online consultation service. If you have any concerns with your skin or its treatment, see a dermatologist for advice. Drug-induced pruritus — codes and concepts open. Drug-induced itch.

Reaction to external agent. Mechanism of drug-induced itch, List of drugs causing itch, Teeatment of drug-induced itch. Exanthematous rashes are considered the most common type of drug rashes, accounting for about 90 percent of cases. You may notice small, raised or flat lesions on reddened skin. In some cases, the lesions may blister and fill with pus. Possible causes of exanthematous drug rashes include:.

Hives urticaria are the second most common type of drug rash. This type of rash consists of small, pale red bumps that can connect and form larger patches.

They can become very itchy. Possible causes of urticarial drug rashes include:. Photosensitivity refers to reactions worsened by sun exposure. Certain drugs can make your skin extra sensitive to ultraviolet light , causing a subsequent itchy sunburn if you go outside without wearing sunscreen and protective clothing.

Examples of drugs that may cause photosensitivity include:. Erythroderma is a potentially life threatening condition that causes nearly your entire skin to become itchy and red. Your skin may grow scaly within several days. You may also experience a fever, with your skin feeling hot to the touch. Examples of drugs that can cause erythroderma, including:. Certain underlying health conditions can also cause erythroderma , such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Erythroderma can become serious and life threatening. Seek immediate medical attention if you think this is the type of rash you have. Each one can also cause large areas of the top layer of your skin to come off, leaving raw, open sores. Some of the potential drug-related causes include:. They both require immediate medical attention. The clinical features and underlying proposed mechanisms of itching caused by these drugs have been specifically investigated.

The recent application of targeted anticancer drugs has increased the survival rate of cancer patients. These new agents cause significant dAEs such as acneiform rashes, dry skin, hand-foot syndrome, paronychia, and itching.

It is one of the most common reasons people see doctors who specialize in skin disorders dermatologists. Itching makes people want to scratch. Severe allergic skin reactions, particularly those accompanied by serious symptoms such as wheezing or difficulty breathing called anaphylaxis Anaphylactic Reactions Anaphylactic reactions are sudden, widespread, potentially severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions often begin with a feeling of uneasiness, followed by tingling From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.

The Merck Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Commonly searched drugs. Allergic drug rashes. Nonallergic drug rashes. Hypersensitivity and Inflammatory Skin Disorders. Test your knowledge.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is an autoimmune disease that causes clusters of intensely itchy small blisters and hive-like swellings on the skin of people who have celiac disease.

Which of the following foods can trigger an attack of dermatitis herpetiformis? More Content. Drug rashes usually are caused by an allergic reaction to a drug.