Itching (Pruritus) and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Doctor Patient Discussion

Itching, otherwise called CKD-associated Pruritus, is a significant burden for people with Chronic Kidney Disease and on dialysis.
In this program, you can listen to a clinician and person living with the issue as they discuss what pruritus is, the burden of living with this issue, and some possible treatment options.
Tariq Shafi, MD, MHS
John D. Bower Director, Division of Nephrology
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Dawn P. Edwards
Person living with Itching (Pruritus)
Gary Bronz
Moderator
National Kidney Foundation
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[@ellenmacklin4986]

I like the phrase "patient shaming". I had a transplant in 2004 and have dealt with many things the doctors have said to me regarding hygiene especially with UTI's. I also don't think doctors share side effects of the medications such as weight gain and other things like insulin resistance. To be "fat shamed" even though I count calories and would appreciate the fact that they would learn more about herbs and natural foods. Thank you, very informative.

[@oscarmoncada2129]

What a brave woman, God bless you.

[@madraschap]

This is a problem I am facing. This video has enlightened me. I would have to start taking action now.

[@BeccaPetersninelives]

Wow some of the comments here really hit home with me.. my nephrologist always mentions my phosphorus levels.. even when my levels were low I still had itching. It is unbearable now... I’m going to go to a dermatologist next.

[@trishsmithdebrett4447]

Does anyone else find the itching is worse after showering or swiming ? A lifesaver for me is the antihistamine 'Loratadine'

[@hoosierbaddy3052]

Wow. My nighttime itching includes formication. Not fornication, no. Formication is the feeling that bugs are crawling on you. It’s maddening! Sometimes the itch is so violent that I can’t get my hand there quickly enough. Allergy meds are mildly helpful.

[@davidsanford9278]

Virgin coconut oil helps me the most. I recommend.

[@Hhopiuygv]

Eucerin lotion worked great for my husband 🙏🏽

[@vhicksftaut]

thankss

[@annt7384]

Anything with oats or oatmeal is really soothing on my skin if I’ve been scratching a lot lately and my skin is a little raw.

[@jacquelineadams8363]

My itching was so bad I would almost bleed. It was horrible. My legs were so dry they were flaking. I increased my binder intake and took an allergy OTC medication. It seemed to settle down as my phosphorus level decreased, but I'd like to use something more lasting.

[@latoyafrancis3947]

Am feeling pain under my ribs left side.but I was taking a medication that called pzol 20mg for my stomach but I have liver problem.and from I started taking the medication for my liver I started to feel it more frequently.any advice

[@DanielVance]

Unfortunately, physicians often just disregard the symptom of itching and ascribe it to medications used to treat the pain associated with kidney disease.

[@GREAT-DEAL989]

Well, we all know if you wanna fix a prolbem, myou must find the real reason why it happend, it is the same in treatment. It is useless or even worse if just control the symptoms instead fix the root problem. I suggest you to try Chinse traditional medicine, if you can find a good local clinic or I can recommand you one.

[@fernhammett8651]

++q¹q a aaa+q😊0​@@GREAT-DEAL989

[@rami9159]

what about difelikefalin

[@Crunchcrispyasmr6]

Right now with itchy skin I’m watching this😢

[@angelanicholls9647]

I'm end of stage 4 renal failure with severe itchyness, worst at night time as it keeps me awake😩I use Eurax Cream daily which I find it helps, on top of hay fever tablets again that helps for skin allergies and I drink hot water only during the day, to get rid of the toxins in my body, again this helps loads❤️

[@janwarriner6554]

First let me say, thank you NKF for your videos!!! There is an antihistamine that my doctor prescribed that really helps. Hydroxizine. I don’t use it every day nor use the full dose. Most pills we take OTC or prescribed usually go though the kidneys. So I limit how often. Another thing that does help when you’re itching a lot, take a warm temp shower. It helps. Then use a moisturizer lotion on your skin. I use a lotion that is fragrance free and prescribed by my dermatologist. It’s inexpensive and fairly neutral in chemicals that don’t cause itching more. We notice the itching more at night because we are not distracted by daily living so we notice it more. It’s important we all stay on our renal diet!!! It helps eliminate a lot of side effects. I’ve found drinking a lot of water daily (I’m not on dialysis) and that keeps the itching away. No offense but the doctor abd patient were both very limited in solutions. I’m stage 4+

[@pteach9957]

Thank you so much for this video! Great tips on advocating for oneself! Love to see more on this topic.

[@klynn5641]

Hydroxyzine is the only thing that worked for me 👍🏼👍🏼😊

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia (blood in the urine). Home Dialysis is treatment at home for 5 or 6 days per week. It is the best treatment for dialysis patients. Patients always feel better having the 5 or 6 days of treatment . They typically get only 3 days of treatment at a dialysis facility (I believe that Welfare covers only 3 treatments per week in a facility). 3 days just isn't enough for most patients. I'm a Dialysis R.N., & I see a big difference in the outcomes when performing the treatment at home (5-6 days per week). Please be proactive about Home Dialysis---see if that's an option for you !

[@ashokkheta1758]

Itching stopped after taking hit baths and taking iron tablets strong ones also using Johnson baby oil reduce itching it takes a few days gradually it completely goes away I had that itching on the skin because of swollen feet first time I was prescribed statin that gave oedema second time I couldn't sleep well because of elbow pain in both sides due to injuries from work never got composition useless doctors and useless lawyers ,I was on my feet a lot the earth's gravitational force pulls the blood towards the feet that caused oedema I took the above procedure and I am ok now that was last year ,take care of which chemical medicine your doctor proscribes it could send one to the cardio unit at the hospital.keep fit take herbal medicine it works

[@grandmajane2593]

I get a kick out the the phrase "care team". , What the heck is that, and how do I get a team of people to help me?

[@user-qg2rr7qf8p]

I've been breaking out in like a allergic reaction type of welps all over my body is this normal?

[@Jury292]

I have Primary sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) also. Medical people don’t know which is causing the itching.

[@josefinasalvacion5555]

How can avoid food that causes my CREATININE HIGH? Do i have a dialysis already? From Philippines. Thanks if i have given an accurate explanation.

[@danielrose7052]

I thought I would go insane with my itching and had no idea it could be tied to my hemodialysis that I’ve been on for over two years. Today I got a mailer from the National Kidney Foundation about pruritus and the symptoms. I literally cried because putting a name on something gives you more power over it. For the last six months, I haven’t slept a full night’s sleep even once and it seems the dialysis chair is the only place I can grab a couple hours of sleep. I’ll be speaking to my care team Thursday about this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, NKF!

[@dorethianewby4620]

What calls itching with cantina

[@Hhopiuygv]

Home Dialysis works great for my husband he feels and looks better

[@nathanielwhitt2670]

No one ever warned me about the itching and it never even came into my radar but after the 5 week of dialysis my gawd!! Now, I think this cold whether has something to do with it too

[@angelafernandez5400]

My husband is experiencing this also

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@Crunchcrispyasmr6]

I wish I could talk to this lady.. I’m dialysis patient and I want to know her experiences. And I’m about to have a transplant

[@ChristineButler-ye5wu]

My name is Christine I have ckdstage3 kidney disease I have very bad itching of the hands

[@lindaholder2024]

I take gabapentin for itching

[@teehorton5083]

My blood levels are always in the good range and I got really itchy skin , I was totally miserable, No one really knows why you get it especially if you blood work comes back good, But I found out I was really low on Vitamin B1 (Thiamine). It has been a life saver for me. 1 capsule 500mg every day. It knocked the itchy way down. They have a new IV med available now. But I haven’t had to go that route. Good Luck!

[@hoosierbaddy3052]

Teehorton; thanks for the recommendation. I’m going to try it. Allergy medicine isn’t very effective.

[@teehorton5083]

@@hoosierbaddy3052 Drink the Dialysis protein drink also, they say we itch cause our vitamins and minerals are out of whack!

[@sandramurkerson9041]

My upper back itches daily.....kinda burning itch

[@sallydiavatis5779]

Talking to the dr. is definitely not intimidating; getting THE DR. to respond is the problem!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Heidi914]

Wondering if others itching has been localized? Mine seems to be neck, back of knees, arm pits, groin, inside of elbows.

[@pteach9957]

Also where I have experienced too.

[@Heidi914]

@@pteach9957 thank you for your reply it helps in trying to figure things out

[@pteach9957]

Also, I am making sure to take my binders when I eat and I use the tips they suggested in the video (fragrance free detergent, good moisturizer, drink plenty water).

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@fyazfaisal7765]

After discussion we noticed that there is no solutions to puritus. The doctor could not give any medicine which will be beneficial.

[@tanyawales5445]

Try the ultraviolet light therapy. You have nothing to lose and it can be very effective.

[@Crunchcrispyasmr6]

Does kidney failure affects periods of girls too? I mean I’m kidney failure and it has been a year that I’m not having my periods can it be because of the same kidney? Pleaseeee let me know

[@tanyawales5445]

Kidney failure or kidneys with low function can cause significant iron anemia. If your iron levels are low it probably is your kidney BUT it could also be due to low B vitamin levels or other diseases such as hypothyroidism or a slow bleed in your gut. I don't want to alarm you but pre-mature menopause is a slim possibility. That can be checked out with a blood test. Get a blood workup and work with your kidney doctor and a hematologist. I tried taking iron, medications and nothing helped except eating a hamburger for lunch every day for a year. Nowadays seventeen years later, that and taking loads of iron daily isn't helping. I am going to have get a colonoscopy to rule out GI bleeding and an iron infusion to bring my iron levels up to normal at least temporarily. Incidentally, I was 50 when my anemia started and post menopausal so my periods weren't an issue. Don't put this off since if you get too anemic the next step is blood transfusions.

[@randommandom604]

This may not help everybody but it helps me and those around me. I conclude this by analyzing my own experience and those around me. The remedy i found myself so far works on me and those around me. Hopefully it helps you guys too. The itching type i have is coming when my body heat rise, example when room temp is hot or when we walk under the hot sun or when we do exercise or when we have panic or worry. I definitely stop the itching by taking cold shower or go into a cold room or standing in front of air conditioner. It will definitely working like wonder right away or soon. So far i cant find any doctor know much about this. When i try to find article about this, it seems that this matter doesn’t get coverage that much. So what we can do as patients is just sharing to each other about our experience and draw temporary conclusion or solution. Its the reality.

[@ZyctArtistry]

One thing that I discovered lately that triggers my itching is grapes. The moment I stop eating grapes, the itching goes away. I still itch and I agree that walking under the sun also triggers. Find the things that triggers the itching. I've got ESRD, refused dialysis...

[@arshadpirzada]

I am at stage 3b and tends to to decaying to stage 4. I had severe itching and pruritus bumps on the skin as well. I went to dermatologist he has now advised me to start oral steroids. I am afraid of using oral steroids. Do you recommend it is safe to use oral steroids especially I have hypertension and as well diabetic .

[@tanyawales5445]

I think that it is important for you to get that itching and skin rash under control first. Why? The kind of itching you are experiencing is maddening and can raise your blood pressure. Oral steroids do not have to be a lifetime thing. In fact, often times when steroids are prescribed they are a short course of steroids for 5 to 10 days to reduce inflammation. Once the skin rash and itching has quieted down then you can try the lotions or other therapies your dermatologist recommends. There are creams with steroids in them and that can be a way to maintain clear skin and prevent itching without as much of an effect as oral steroids present. From my own experience, with severe asthma attacks, eosinophilia (my own immune system attacking my body) which was life threatening and hives from a penicillin allergy a short course of steroids can produce amazing results. Usually by the second day you are feeling noticeably better. You will gain some water weight but that is temporary. Every day the dose tapers off so getting off the steroids is not a shock to the system. I understand where you are coming from because due to COVID-19 I received kidney damage and am now at stage 3/4 two years after having COVID-19. I have an itchy rash, thickened skin and bumps on my lower legs. I go back to my nephrologist in two weeks and will talk to him about it. I didn't know at first that the rash was due to my kidney issues. I am doing what I can with my diet and adding vitamin supplements to try and get my biochemistry normalized. You don't understand how important your kidneys are and how much they do for you until they stop functioning normally.

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@deborahbryant4491]

Caused by Uremia.

[@arshadpirzada]

@Gilla Rasford how to contact Dr.obara.

[@myrahouse2368]

I’m here as I know a kidney patient who scratches relentlessly looking to find a solution for her. 😮‍💨

[@felinayambao4676]

Im suffering ivhiness during dialysis

[@promlama7616]

❤

[@felinayambao4676]

Ichiness

[@4ass3dmonkey]

Whos coming here for the CDD assignment as well

[@radheradhe81314]

I want to donet kidney

[@eriknephrongfr8847]

Ok, so there’s a new(expensive) drug. But ultraviolet light therapy has successfully managed dialysis-associated pruritis for at least two decades, cheaply(relatively) and effectively. It’s horrifically underused.

[@mrpachino6014]

Thanks for sharing your findings. Do you ming me asking what model number abd brand you use, typr etc? thank yo.

[@emilylacerna7706]

How to remove rashes on my face i'm dialysis patient