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Does anybody get itchy from using narcotics?

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Posted 9/16/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, i was just curious if anybody else gets extremely itchy and burny from using narcotics, well oxycontin, i just started mine again today,and already I am severely itchy, was just wondering if this was a normal thing to happen, or if im having a reaction,

Is there a suggestion as to what I might be able to take to calm the itching. its almost like i have hives but no marks.

I have posted topics before, im hoping that someone might be able to help, its very irritating.

Thanks again

kelly

Posted 9/16/2008 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
confused  It is confusing to me, I am on narcotics ive never had itching as such but my skin in general has become much more sensitive and very dry and scaly, if your skin is really dry it could cause itching, is that what might be causing it with you.    sorry not much help.   sue2z :-) :-)
Posted 9/16/2008 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
another question I have, is if you know if fibromyalgia is linked to intestinal problems? Right now im having several tests done, to try and rule out crohns, however all signs point to crohns, so far, but nothing has showed in the colonosopy or the small bowel follow through, but the doc says that my doctor will probably have me do another test in which they stick a tube down my throat under sedation, i tested all 18 tender points with fibromyalgia, plus I have osteoarthritis, in my hips, and degenerative disc disease in my lower back, only 30, and i feel like im falling apart, Symptoms are, loss of about 40 pounds, abdominal bloating and distention, constant pressure on pelvis and abs, lower and upper, pressure on bladder, hungry but only able to eat a little bit before I feel like im gonna burst, nausea, and lots of diarrhea, pasty yucky stools, im not absorbing anything and my b12 is low, hope that you can help
kelly
Posted 9/16/2008 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. I know that Fibromyalgia is associated with both IBS and GERD (I have both), but I don't know about Crohn's or other abdominal problems.

 

As far as the pain-killers go, I have the same reaction to some narcotics.  I have hives with Demerol and head to toe itching with morphine.  I do fine with Staydol and Dilaudid.  All of these are i.v. narcotics (I've had lots of surgeries and kidney stones), but some I do fine with and others, not so well.  I guess my point is (and there really is one smilewinkgrin ) is that if one causes a reaction, another may not, and there may be something else you can try.

 

Also, I've been given benadryl with narcotics to minimize the reaction, but since they are both CNS depressants, I would never do that without a doctor's okay. I would probably call my doctor regardless because of the itching.

 

Hope you find some relief - Austen 

Posted 9/16/2008 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Its only my opinion but yes definately, I beleive it affects every part.  It especially effects all aspects of bowel, alot of people like myself have ulcerative colonitus.  I beleive everything can have a symptom without there actually being anything wrong so its hard to know whats real or not.Arthretic probs also common. Anything to do with bowel.  I kept going to doc and saying I had urine infection it turned out I didnt. The fibro was giving me the same symptoms.   So my answer is yes, nothing would surprise me with fibro with what symptoms it can produce.   sue2z confused confused confused
Posted 9/16/2008 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
ok, I thank you for all of your advice and info, i really and new to this disease myself, and now this intestinal problem is happening, i also have bi polar type 2, rapid cycling, and right now i suffer from PTSD, from a car accident over a year ago,
I find this site so useful and informative, what a great idea, keep up the good work :)
kelly
Posted 9/16/2008 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Darvon breaks me out in hives but darvocet makes me itch from head to toes. It sounds like a reaction to the med.

 

I have digestive problems from one end to the other but most of them I've had long before fibro.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/16/2008 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I take norco and yes it makes me itch a little. I know that other narcotics make people itch. My late husband was given benadryl for the itching also when he had cancer. He had to take morphine and dilaudid.

My itching isn't that bad, but norco is on the low side of the scale of the narcotics.

Just thought I would add that.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 9/16/2008 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
mom78, I have Crohns' associated FMS. With CD any given part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus can be affected. Usually it hits in the small bowel, it can be in the large also, or obth. I have it in both, but the worst one is the stricture in the ileum.

Yes, oxycodone makes me itchy. Especially the head and nose!
Posted 9/16/2008 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there its kelly again, was it your doctor who told you that the cd was associated with fm? im just curious, i also have degenerative disc disease in my lower lumbar spine, osteoarthritis in my hips, have not been diagnosed with crohns, but the doc thinks thats what it is. I also suffer from anxiety, depression, bipolar type two rapid cycling, and im tired a lot, my b12 is low as well,
thanks stephanie for your input, and to whoever else gave me some info,
kelly
Posted 9/16/2008 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had IBS and other intestinal issues long before I was actually diagnosed w/fibro. I am 52 and was diagnosed at 32. My mom is 72 and has it too. She does not have any intestinal probs...just the pain in arms and legs.
I have daily migraines, but no way to associate it to the fibro. I also have a ton of other symptoms. I manage to work 40 hours a week, but very difficult.

I itch frequently due to different meds. Never know when it's going to hit. Last time it happened w/benadril! I also have lots of allergies to meds. Things do the reverse of what they should, few meds make me sleepy. Since I can't take benadril, I take xanax to take the edge off. I can only take .25 mg, since more reves me up too much.
Posted 9/16/2008 7:09 PM (GMT 0)

OK, you know I had to put my 2 cents in about narcotics (well, I hope y'all don't mind if I just put 1 cent in-cause I am dead broke! sad ).  Obviously, we all react differently to narcotics.  But, it seems like a lot of us react to morphine the most.  I once had a severe anyphalactic reaction to morphine because the stupid (sorry, but to do what she did, she had to be stupid) nurse gave it to me IV and instead of either mixing it with saline or giving it to me very slowly, she slammed it into my vein in one quick action.  This must have been over 10 years ago when this happened, and I can still "feel" the burning and itchiness in my face and it ran down to my hands and feet.  I got really bad hives and they had to give me benedryl and epinephrine.  Basically, she almost killed me-by not paying attention to what she should be doing. mad

Anyway, I am also allergic to codeine, but I'm not allergic to hydrocodone (Vicodin).  I wonder if this is because vicodin is a synthetic narcotic and codeine is a pure narcotic.  Who knows?  I'm also allergic to tons of anibiotics, too. rolleyes

Posted 9/16/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelly. The pain specialist who dx'd me told me FMS is associated w/ CD. I also googled it and I read the same thing multiple times. I also have lots of back issues from the neck down to teh SI joints. Bulging discs, stenosis, bone spurs, pinched nerves, sacroiliitis (from CD), etc. BTW my gastro said bulging discs can cause intestinal pain too.

FMS does cause it's own itching too. It especially hits me when I'm trying to sleep, adn continues to wake me up. Benedryl helps, but also causes restless leg syndrome, so...do I or don't I? I odn't. I deal w/ the itching.
Posted 9/16/2008 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
When I took oxycontin I had a flushing sensation in my arms and face. It kind of felt like a hot flash, for want of a better way to describe it. If it is causing you to itch and break out in a rash, I think I'd call the doctor and ask for a different drug for pain relief. It sounds like an allergent reaction to me.
Posted 9/17/2008 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Itchiness is consistent with longer term Narcotic use. It's a common side effect. Lot's of moisturizer when still damp out of tub or shower, use of an antihistamine, and minimize the use of pain meds to when you really need them, should help.
Posted 9/17/2008 5:12 AM (GMT 0)

 

When you 1st start a narcotic pain med it does cause itching but as your body gets used to it the itching goes away. Normally. If not, I would ask for another pain med cause I think it's an allergic reaction. (too strong of a med, maybe) Best of luck to you. wink
Posted 10/21/2008 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mom 1978 I was born in 78 and I'm a mom as well. We have very similiar health issues.  I was recently dignosed with the same bipolar, itch like hell with the narcotics and have bowel issues. Morphine gives me severe diareah for several weeks. They just started me on this pain patch tonight and I'm going to scratch myself to death. I was just wondering if you have ever had the gut reaction with the narcotics.  Demerol stopped me up, but ER morphine gives me the bad craps. I would really like your input. Thank you.
Posted 10/21/2008 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
hi there,
when i was on narcotics they constipated me big time, like for several days, even when i was taking lactulose several times a day so i had to stop them. I'm not sure if i got the gut reaction, as i always have something wrong with my stomach, either diarrhea, constipation, or constant gas and cramps, it sucks, Im sorry that you are going through all of this, just recently they think that i may have endometriosis, which really really sucks, but yesterday i was accepted for disability
take care and keep in touch
kelly
Posted 10/21/2008 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I think you are having a side affect of the medication.  Here is a link all about Oxycontin.  One of the side affects is itching.  I know that I had itching with Amoxycillin and can't take it anymore.

 

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/rx/rx-mono.aspx?contentFileName=Oxy1625.html&contentName=Oxycontin&contentId=412

 

 

Sherrine

Posted 12/6/2008 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Shades, New to this all. I have been takeing Oxycotin for 5 years and the itching will keep me awake at nite, the more I take the itchier I get, so I added Benidril and Tylnol PM and seemes to be under control,. but too much OXY will keep you awake all nite... First it starts with one, than another, than another untill you can;t even lay still for 30sec without an itch! Wow I do know all about it..Shades
Posted 12/6/2008 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
i don't have much of a history with narcotics, but they did give me a morphine drip when i had my last c-section and OMG after it was over i was sooooooooooo itchy. just itchy itchy itchy everywhere like MAD. (all of my visitors were laughing at me, i was itching so bad everywhere). the nurse told me it was a standard, very common side effect to morphine, so i would imagine it would be for other narcotics as well?
Posted 12/6/2008 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I do not react to morphine but I am not as sensitive to meds as most of the folks on this board. However, in the hospital they will give you bendryl if you itch from opiods. It is a fairly common reaction. Not limited to fibro.

Donnaeil
Posted 12/6/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shades and welcome to our family. I don't take narcotics mostly because of all the reactions I have had. I was sent home with darvocet after a surgery and I thought I was going to go crazy with the itching, it was inside and out.

 

This is a great forum and I'm glad you found us.

 

 

SleepyBug did you have an epideral when you had your c section??? My niece when she had her last child about went nuts with the itching but it was the epideral that caused it.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 

Posted 12/11/2008 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Alright everyone, I need to know how youa re getting your doctors to prescribe narcotics for you. I hurt so bad I can't move, my feet hurt so bad I can't walk. My doctor refuses. Is it time to find a new Doc. If anyone knows of one that specializes in fibro in wi let me know. Thanks

Posted 12/19/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
I've tried so many narcotics for the last 25 yrs! ALL of them wear off after using for a while. Now I only use herbs. I get better relief have no tolerance build up or itching like the meds cause.
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