Does YOUR itch keep you up at night? Arthritis drug helps patients to make ‘dramatic’ improvements and gets rid of the urge to scratch

If a random itch often keeps you awake at night tossing and turning in bed, scientists may finally have some good news for you.

They have discovered that a drug already in use to treat arthritis helps to relieve the annoying urge to scratch relentlessly.

Tofacitinib, when taken twice daily, helped five patients with severe itches from unknown causes make ‘dramatic’ improvements, a study showed.

The Washington University, St Louis, findings, dubbed ‘encouraging’, help to identify the mysterious roots of chronic itching.