# Why does cold medicine make my head to itch?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939 "2003-01-26T00:18:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939/1 "2003-01-26T00:18:25Z")

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I’ve noticed this phenomenon before.

My scalp does not itch ordinarily. I do not suffer from dandruff or psoriasis or any other skin ailment.

But when I get a head cold and take an over-the-counter medication to relieve the symptoms, my scalp itches.

I’ve always assumed it was related to the medication drying out the mucous membranes in my sinuses.

Can anyone corroborate this or offer alternative explanations?

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939/2 "2003-01-26T03:34:10Z")

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It would help if you told us the ingredients of your cold medicine.

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**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939/3 "2003-01-26T03:56:44Z")

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Sorry. I see your point.

Chlorpheniramine maleate…4 mg  
Pseudoephedrine HCI…60 mg

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-cold-medicine-make-my-head-to-itch/150939/4 "2003-01-26T15:47:50Z")

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Chlorpheniramine usually reduces symptomatic itching, but a lot of people report that pseudophed causes itch. Perhaps on the basis of local vasoconstriction or nerve irritation.