Somehow or another your dad must be releasing some histimine. I know that another family had experienced some itching and it is on an advice and/or discussion page. Why don't you look at some past postings. I recall suggesting some benign essential oils. But always check with the doctor!! It is important to keep your dad as comfortable as possible. Important for him and very important for you to know you did actively seek to get him the most comfort you possibly could.

A lot of of als patients have very dry skin which causes itching. I use Nexcare advanced fortifying cream and this helps tremendously.

Is your father taking any sort of medication right now? Give some more information if you can about recent changes in medication, diet, etc. because this may give some clues on how to handle this situation. Barb is a wealth of information regarding medications and she can certainly give you ideas about side effects associated with any medications.

I remember you mentioned he was possibly taking vitamins and supplements as well so any information you can share as well would be great.

Please give my best to your father and let him know he will be in my prayers.

I went digging alittle deeper into the pharmacokenetics of baclofen. Is your father on baclofen? It is not common, but itching is a side effect of baclofen. I would contact your doctor to see if this may be a cause. Sometimes the itching comes if the dosage is too low! Everyone is so unique. My suggestion is of an average joe, so call your doctor!

Hi Tishpoo, My husband is taking baclofen and has chronic itching since starting the med. He also has excess secretions of body oil, mostly on his face. Both started shortly after taking the baclofen. I give him benadryl at night to help make him comfortable at night. I also keep a good supply of cortizone cream on hand. It may sound weird but, he says the cream really works when I use either a nail brush or toothbrush and kind of scrub it in with the brush. His skin isn't showing signs of being dry now that the warmer weather is here. Some time ago, I wrote a simular question in the advice list. There have been a few responses to it so, you may want to look it up. Let me know how you make out with your dad. Sorry to hear he's still in the hospital.

When my husband was itching the Dr. at the als clinic put him on Neurontin and it stopped the itching.

Hi I'm new to the group, my husband was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's a few months ago, First they said he had Progressive Bulbar Palsy. We doctored for over 2 1/2 years trying to find out what was wrong. Hie started with occasional falls then not able to hold Nails to hammer then more and more things began to change especially his breathing. A couple of doctors said it was all in his head and to go home and learn how to breathe. But enough of all these things . Now his whole body itches so bad he leaves big blood lines under his skin from itching. Has anyone tried Benadryl, just wondering?