Mast Cell Disorders Forum

Mast Cell Disorders Forum
http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl General Mast Cell Disorders Discussion >> Medicines >> Evening Primrose Oil http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1390872725 Message started by Aggie48 on 01/27/14 at 13:32:05

Title: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by Aggie48 on 01/27/14 at 13:32:05

I currently am suffering from hives covering my body and swelling of my lips and eyes. Has anyone on here ever tried Evening Primrose Oil pills for skin issues?

Title: Re: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by DeborahW, Founder on 01/27/14 at 16:15:27

It sounds as if you need antihistamines and possibly prednisone if you are having hives and swelling. Have you called a doctor or gone to the ER?

Title: Re: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by brigitte on 01/27/14 at 16:57:30

Aggie, do you have a diagnosis yet? I too suffer from hives and angioedema (swelling). Antihistamines help a lot. But as I have learned from Deborah, you need to take them at least twice a day.
Steroids can help too, but unfortunately not a long term remedy:(

Title: Re: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by Starflower on 01/28/14 at 04:04:34

Evening primrose oil has a lot of GLA, which your body converts to prostaglandins. Prostaglandins can do good things in certain situations (my midwife prescribed evening primrose oil when I was overdue with my first baby)... but they also cause inflammation and pain. If a mast cell disorder is the cause of your hives, I wouldn't add anything that might make it worse.

GLA might be good for *dry* skin... but it's not the kind of thing people use to treat hives.

Heather

Title: Re: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by Aggie48 on 01/28/14 at 07:47:15

Thank you all for responses!!! I really appreciate it! I'm currently taking Zyrtec, Zantac, and Vistaril. I have been to my Internist and an Allergist - both don't know what's going on - they both think it's autoimmune related. I have MCAD and Hashimotos disease and right now I am very anemic. I'm definitely in a flare right now. I can't get into my Mast Cell Doc until Feb. 20th, so for now I'm just trying to survive!!! :'(

Heather - thank you so much for the information - I think I will stay away from Evening Primrose oil for now!

Title: Re: Evening Primrose Oil
Post by brigitte on 01/28/14 at 15:22:27

I'm glad you're staying away from the primrose for now:) if you look at the urticaria society website, they talk about salicylates being possible aggravators for urticaria and angioedema. As we are all different, I will say that I personally have serious reactions to salicylates :-[