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What Causes Pruritus While On Antidepressant?

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Posted on Thu, 29 Dec 2016
Question: Several symptoms have shown up slowly over the last month. I had a bout of food poisoning from turkey, when I first noticed the first symptom of heartburn. I tried using opromozal (spelling?) one tablet per day. That did little to nothing. Then I tried Pepcid that worked, however my urine was cloudy with odor. I recently moved last week into new construction. The symptoms were already occurring. Skin itching no rash started before move as well. I scratch even in my sleep. It seems the itching is at the back of hairline, chest elbows, knees and back, waistline. Urine has somewhat gotten better, stopped the Pepcid (still have heartburn) I drink a glass of milk before bed and treat with Tums. Had thyroid cancer 38 years ago and my whole thyroid was removed. I have always taken synthroid and have blood checked regularly. It has not changed in the last three years, take .75 daily. I am 62 and recently divorced after 40 years of marriage, Completely moved to another state, etc. etc. etc. I take anxiety and depression medicine and is all the same kind. Do you think all these symptoms are related to anything. There is no rash just itching and then I draw blood with scratching. Thank you, XXXX
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Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Pruritus

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

You can check your LFT (Liver function tests) like serum bilirubin,SGOT,SGPT and serum alkaline phosphatase to rule out any hepatic/biliary cause of itching since you had cancer of thyroid (Operated) years back and now any cholestasis due to secondaries in liver.
Another possibility is drug induced cholestasis causing pruritus.
Anti-psychotic drugs such as Olanzapine,Risperidone ,Quetiapine are known to cause hepatic dysfunction. You have not mentioned your current anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs.
Any allergic reaction would have caused itching with skin rashes.


Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX



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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
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Answered by
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Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1975

Answered : 1920 Questions

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What Causes Pruritus While On Antidepressant?

Brief Answer: Pruritus Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns. You can check your LFT (Liver function tests) like serum bilirubin,SGOT,SGPT and serum alkaline phosphatase to rule out any hepatic/biliary cause of itching since you had cancer of thyroid (Operated) years back and now any cholestasis due to secondaries in liver. Another possibility is drug induced cholestasis causing pruritus. Anti-psychotic drugs such as Olanzapine,Risperidone ,Quetiapine are known to cause hepatic dysfunction. You have not mentioned your current anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs. Any allergic reaction would have caused itching with skin rashes. Regards Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX