I second the atarax suggestion. I've suffered with allergies and itching since childhood. Benedryl helps me sleep sometimes but using it nightly reduces its effectiveness. When I'm depressed, it's a bad med for me....can make the depression worse in many physical and mental ways. I have a pain cream I use for itching.....it's called Mountain Magic lineaments cream and is the ONLY cream I've ever found effective for itching, including prescription steroid creams. I like the smell but some people might not....but it works and that's most important. Good luck.....itching can truly cause insanity from my experience or make it worse at best.