Poison Ivy, Oak, Or Sumac: Medications

Content provided by Healthwise

Medications

Antihistamine pills are used to relieve the symptoms of the rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Prescription medications, such as corticosteroids, may be used for severe rashes. Medications are also used to make the rash less severe.

Medication Choices

• Antihistamine pills such as diphenhydramine hydrochloride (nonprescription: for example, Benadryl) or hydroxyzine hydrochloride (prescription: for example, Atarax, Rezine) help relieve itching and dry blisters.
• Corticosteroid pills may be used to treat a moderate or severe rash. These prescription medications help improve or clear up the rash more quickly. Prescription corticosteroid creams, ointments, shots, or gels may also be used, but pills or an injection are usually more effective.
• Barrier creams and lotions help prevent the plant oil (urushiol) from coming in contact with the skin or reduce the severity of a reaction. These creams vary in their potency and are not always effective.

You may be able to use a product that dissolves urushiol, such as Tecnu Poison Oak-N-Ivy Cleanser, an organic solvent. These products may reduce the severity of your reaction if used up to 48 hours after exposure.

The most common complication of poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash is a secondary infection, usually caused by scratching. When this occurs, your health professional will probably prescribe a type of topical antibiotic cream if the infection is in a small area. Otherwise, you may need systemic antibiotics, given by injection or prescription pills.¹

What To Think About

The following medications should not be used for poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash, because they can cause allergy problems of their own:

• Antihistamines applied to the skin (such as Benadryl cream, spray, or gel; Dermamycin)
• Anesthetics applied to the skin containing benzocaine (such as Americaine, Anacaine, Lanacane, Bicozene)
• Antibiotics containing neomycin sulfate (such as Neosporin, Neo-Rx, Mycifradin, Poly-Pred)

E-mail This | Print This Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Last updated:	January 12, 2006
Author:	Colleen Cronin
Reviewed By:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer