I take a drug called atarax (Hydroxyzine is generic name). It has been amazing for me as I have horrible allergic itching attacks. No antihistamine has ever worked until they put me on this. What's even better is that it is also anti anxiety but non addictive like xanex or klonopin. It works in a similar way to benadryl but it works much better for me. I take two 25 mg pills before bed. If I run out the itching comes back within 3 days. As long as I take it, I rarely itch.