Chronic pain Support - Itching Hydrocodone..

Author

Itching Hydrocodone..

Jamie Dolan

2006-07-22, 2:23 am

HI,

Does anyone that takes a few hydrocodone a day have a problem where at
night, you have a kind of difuse itching sensation all over your body that
drives you freaking out of your mind??

If this happens, what do you do about it?

I already try xanax, and atarax, chlortrimitrin, benedryl, clonazpoam. But
when this bad itching thing happens, it is soo so so hard to get to sleep,
It is often accoumponied by pain in my joint in muscles as well. (which is
nothing new...)

thanks

Frustrated,

Jamie

Legend

2006-07-22, 8:24 am

I remember this happening with codeine-when I took it occasionally,
long before my pain became chronic. I was able to withstand it because
I also felt euphoria at the time-I didn't WANT to sleep. My first
chronic Pain drug was , in fact, codeine-but, with daily use, the
itching, and the euphoria, soon disappeared.

Of the meds you listed, benadryl and atarax seem the most promising,
being antihistamines. They both come in gel forms, as well as in
pills. Have you tried those (or any anti-itch gels for that matter)?

If nothing helps, you may have to ask your doctor for a different
prescription, since this may be the sign of an allergy. Do you take
anything else for pain? Maybe a slight increase would eliminate your
need for Vicodin. Maybe you need something different anyhow, for the
joint pain.

I wish you the best-and hope you can get the pain and the itching under
control.

-Legend

Jamie Dolan wrote:
> HI,
>
> Does anyone that takes a few hydrocodone a day have a problem where at
> night, you have a kind of difuse itching sensation all over your body that
> drives you freaking out of your mind??
>
> If this happens, what do you do about it?
>
> I already try xanax, and atarax, chlortrimitrin, benedryl, clonazpoam. But
> when this bad itching thing happens, it is soo so so hard to get to sleep,
> It is often accoumponied by pain in my joint in muscles as well. (which is
> nothing new...)
>
> thanks
>
> Frustrated,
>
> Jamie

Ruada

2006-07-22, 8:24 am

I used to get the itchies like this too from some opiod meds. You said you
have tried benadryl--but how much benadryl? The OTC 25mg tabs? Just one or
a dose recommended by a doc? The 25mg tabs are OTC but benadryl comes
stronger with a prescription and much more than 25mgs can be taken for
problems like this. I believe it was the allergy med called Zyrtec that was
the last prescription med they gave me to try but it never worked better
than larger doses of benadryl. I once had a hives type reaction with an
itch so bad it drove me to an emergency room where I got up to 150mgs of IV
benadryl at a time, at least 6 times over a 16 hour period. Really nasty.

I do know that with time this reaction to opiod meds went away. I've had it
to a certain degree with every new one I've tried but it gets better--slowly
over a couple of months. Since benadryl (the generic form --
diphenhydramine) is the "sleep aid" they put in the OTC night time or PM
pain meds at an adjusted dose it would let me sleep. It just took a bit of
time the first couple of times to find out the effective dose with my doc's
help. It is a truly miserable situation though. Sometimes it is hard to
decide if the pain relief is worth enough to suffer through it yet again.

"Jamie Dolan" <jamiedolan@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4%jwg.52377$VE1.19024@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> HI,
>
> Does anyone that takes a few hydrocodone a day have a problem where at
> night, you have a kind of difuse itching sensation all over your body that
> drives you freaking out of your mind??
>
> If this happens, what do you do about it?
>
> I already try xanax, and atarax, chlortrimitrin, benedryl, clonazpoam.
But
> when this bad itching thing happens, it is soo so so hard to get to sleep,
> It is often accoumponied by pain in my joint in muscles as well. (which is
> nothing new...)
>
> thanks
>
> Frustrated,
>
> Jamie
>
>

Jamie Dolan

2006-07-22, 4:21 pm

HI,

The weird thing is that no matther when I take hydrocodone, The itching
almost exclusivle happens at night, either while I am trying to sleep or
when I wake up in the night in pain, mand I am itching...

I have taken up to 100mg of benedryl at once, most doctors consider that a
very high dose in a out paient setting from what I gather taking to doctors
about it.

I have not tried any of the gels or steroids, because it is so diffuse, it
just happens all over my body, a lot on my legs, but on my chest, arms back,
etc also.

I used hydrocodone daily for like 4 months early this year, then stoped for
about 2 months because of all this itching crap, then I just started it
again,, because I really needed it for pain.

I may see if he is willing to try oxycodone or something else like that...

thanks

jamie

"Legend" <livinnow@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153560491.661216.154240@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>I remember this happening with codeine-when I took it occasionally,
> long before my pain became chronic. I was able to withstand it because
> I also felt euphoria at the time-I didn't WANT to sleep. My first
> chronic Pain drug was , in fact, codeine-but, with daily use, the
> itching, and the euphoria, soon disappeared.
>
> Of the meds you listed, benadryl and atarax seem the most promising,
> being antihistamines. They both come in gel forms, as well as in
> pills. Have you tried those (or any anti-itch gels for that matter)?
>
> If nothing helps, you may have to ask your doctor for a different
> prescription, since this may be the sign of an allergy. Do you take
> anything else for pain? Maybe a slight increase would eliminate your
> need for Vicodin. Maybe you need something different anyhow, for the
> joint pain.
>
> I wish you the best-and hope you can get the pain and the itching under
> control.
>
>
> -Legend
>
>
>
> Jamie Dolan wrote:
>

Jamie Dolan

2006-07-22, 9:21 pm

>I used to get the itchies like this too from some opiod meds. You said you
> have tried benadryl--but how much benadryl? The OTC 25mg tabs? Just one
> or
> a dose recommended by a doc? The 25mg tabs are OTC but benadryl comes
> stronger with a prescription and much more than 25mgs can be taken for

Up to 100mg q4h

> problems like this. I believe it was the allergy med called Zyrtec that
> was
> the last prescription med they gave me to try but it never worked better

I have tried almost all of the modern antihistimines like zyrtec. Zyrtec is
a metobolite of atarax anyway, so since I have been using atarax with little
sucess,,, I doubt that zyrtec will work, but I have tried it anyway, with
little sucess.

> than larger doses of benadryl. I once had a hives type reaction with an
> itch so bad it drove me to an emergency room where I got up to 150mgs of
> IV
> benadryl at a time, at least 6 times over a 16 hour period. Really nasty.

I have probly been up to 125 or 150 within a 4 hours period. I have
recently started using chlortiminton, because it can work very well also,
but it is not working well for me in this particular case...

>
> I do know that with time this reaction to opiod meds went away. I've had
> it
> to a certain degree with every new one I've tried but it gets
> better--slowly
> over a couple of months. Since benadryl (the generic form --
> diphenhydramine) is the "sleep aid" they put in the OTC night time or PM
> pain meds at an adjusted dose it would let me sleep. It just took a bit
> of
> time the first couple of times to find out the effective dose with my
> doc's
> help. It is a truly miserable situation though. Sometimes it is hard to
> decide if the pain relief is worth enough to suffer through it yet again.

Perhaps the problem is that I am taking hydro tabs PRN, instead of taking a
medication that is taken on a regular basis.. Perhaps a long acting
medication would have less problem than this...

I hope my doctors do something to help get this figured out.

-jamie

>
> "Jamie Dolan" <jamiedolan@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4%jwg.52377$VE1.19024@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> But
>
>

Ruada

2006-07-23, 2:25 am

The long lasting forms are when the problem seemed to go away for me. I had
not really thought about it until you mentioned it. All the meds I had this
problem with were PRN. After about a week or so on the long lasting steady
dose meds it all but stopped happening at all. I also have psoriasis and
most of my pain problems are related to psoriatic arthritis and other
autoimmune problems so I'm not always sure just what is causing the itching
but usually the one that is caused by the opiod meds is all over and kinda
burns too almost like the flush you get with too much niacin and totally
miserable. The p itch can be miserable too but there usually is a
difference that I can recognize after a while.

I find the biggest overall problem I have from this long term is when I
scratch in my sleep and break the skin, some areas are scared from this.
When I really having problems with it I have to put light weight gloves on
so I don't damage skin in my sleep once I can get to sleep -- that is where
the benzo meds help a bunch. But my docs know, that is why I have them. I
hope you can get something figured out too.
"Jamie Dolan" <jamiedolan@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:yLwwg.133919$dW3.50275@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
>
you[vbcol=seagreen]
one[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Up to 100mg q4h
>
>
> I have tried almost all of the modern antihistimines like zyrtec. Zyrtec
is
> a metobolite of atarax anyway, so since I have been using atarax with
little
> sucess,,, I doubt that zyrtec will work, but I have tried it anyway, with
> little sucess.
>
nasty.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> I have probly been up to 125 or 150 within a 4 hours period. I have
> recently started using chlortiminton, because it can work very well also,
> but it is not working well for me in this particular case...
>
had[vbcol=seagreen]
to[vbcol=seagreen]
again.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Perhaps the problem is that I am taking hydro tabs PRN, instead of taking
a
> medication that is taken on a regular basis.. Perhaps a long acting
> medication would have less problem than this...
>
> I hope my doctors do something to help get this figured out.
>
> -jamie
>
>
>

Codeee01@hotmail.com

2006-07-23, 8:24 am

I certainly feel for all of you who itch now!

All these years I had no idea what people were talking about with
itching. Having taken codeine,hydro, and finally oxy for years,
I was very lucky, and had mild itching - if any.

Now, my arms look like bumpy lobster- like appendages with
itchy blisters and bumps.
Once in a while a flaming red
rash will break out somewhere else, just for a change.
It doesn't FEEL like Shingles, so I can only assume it's
tied to the med change.

Antihisimines don't touch it. Cortisone cream OTC relieves it
a bit.

This only came on when the new doc switched
me to morphine. There IS no alternative med in my case,
as it's the only med he
prescribes to anyone,
so the alternative is replacing HIM. <sigh> not
an easy task.

codeee

On 22 Jul 2006 02:28:11 -0700, "Legend" <livinnow@gmail.com> wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
>I remember this happening with codeine-when I took it occasionally,
>long before my pain became chronic. I was able to withstand it because
>I also felt euphoria at the time-I didn't WANT to sleep. My first
>chronic Pain drug was , in fact, codeine-but, with daily use, the
>itching, and the euphoria, soon disappeared.
>
>Of the meds you listed, benadryl and atarax seem the most promising,
>being antihistamines. They both come in gel forms, as well as in
>pills. Have you tried those (or any anti-itch gels for that matter)?
>
>If nothing helps, you may have to ask your doctor for a different
>prescription, since this may be the sign of an allergy. Do you take
>anything else for pain? Maybe a slight increase would eliminate your
>need for Vicodin. Maybe you need something different anyhow, for the
>joint pain.
>
>I wish you the best-and hope you can get the pain and the itching under
>control.
>
>
>-Legend
>
>
>
>Jamie Dolan wrote:

Puddin' Man

2006-07-23, 9:22 pm

On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 00:45:33 -0700, Codeee01@hotmail.com wrote:

>
>
>I certainly feel for all of you who itch now!
>
>All these years I had no idea what people were talking about with
>itching. Having taken codeine,hydro, and finally oxy for years,
>I was very lucky, and had mild itching - if any.
>
> Now, my arms look like bumpy lobster- like appendages with
> itchy blisters and bumps.
> Once in a while a flaming red
>rash will break out somewhere else, just for a change.
>It doesn't FEEL like Shingles, so I can only assume it's
>tied to the med change.

Ouch!

>Antihisimines don't touch it. Cortisone cream OTC relieves it
>a bit.
>
> This only came on when the new doc switched
>me to morphine.

Straight morphine i.e. morphine sulfate?
Tried, say, MS Contin?

Switched you from what other medication(s)?

>There IS no alternative med in my case,
>as it's the only med he
>prescribes to anyone,

Safe to assume he's not a Pain Mngt. doc? After all,
this ain't 1917 we're livin' in.

>so the alternative is replacing HIM. <sigh> not
>an easy task.
>
>codeee

Your doc is 100% fully aware that:

1.) You have taken codeine,hydro, and finally oxy with no
"side effects"?
2.) You have serious histamine reaction, likely from morphine?

???

Why did the new doc switch you to morphine? What did he
previously prescribe?

If you have serious adverse reaction(s) that may be due to
the doc's meds, the doc has an obligation to help identify
and likely rectify the problem. Simple as that.

Pax,
Puddin'
[vbcol=seagreen]
>On 22 Jul 2006 02:28:11 -0700, "Legend" <livinnow@gmail.com> wrote:
>

Jamie Dolan

2006-07-25, 9:22 pm

Thanks for your support.

I am still trying to figure out a solution. I have just been taking a lot
chlortiminton and xanax when i needed it. and it does help.

Being in the summer, and getting mosqueto bites as well makes it all that
much worse.

Jamie

"Ruada" <noone@neverever.ord> wrote in message
news:e9v2l1$r9s$1@blackhelicopter.databasix.com...
> The long lasting forms are when the problem seemed to go away for me. I
> had
> not really thought about it until you mentioned it. All the meds I had
> this
> problem with were PRN. After about a week or so on the long lasting
> steady
> dose meds it all but stopped happening at all. I also have psoriasis and
> most of my pain problems are related to psoriatic arthritis and other
> autoimmune problems so I'm not always sure just what is causing the
> itching
> but usually the one that is caused by the opiod meds is all over and kinda
> burns too almost like the flush you get with too much niacin and totally
> miserable. The p itch can be miserable too but there usually is a
> difference that I can recognize after a while.
>
> I find the biggest overall problem I have from this long term is when I
> scratch in my sleep and break the skin, some areas are scared from this.
> When I really having problems with it I have to put light weight gloves on
> so I don't damage skin in my sleep once I can get to sleep -- that is
> where
> the benzo meds help a bunch. But my docs know, that is why I have them.
> I
> hope you can get something figured out too.
> "Jamie Dolan" <jamiedolan@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:yLwwg.133919$dW3.50275@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> you
> one
> is
> little
> nasty.
> had
> to
> again.
> a
>
>