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Does anybody get itchy from using narcotics?

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Posted 7/8/2009 11:16 AM (GMT -6)
Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum and have read many of your posts.  Last year while I was staying at the hospital with my daughter I had a bad fall. Unfortunately I incurred back injuries, disc protrusions, and disc bulges, in the  C, T, L spine.  Since then I take dilaudid for pain 4 to 8 mils every six hours.  Dilaudid is a synthetic type of morphine for those of you who don't know. It is the only type of narcotic that seems to work for me. I have also been prescribed fentanyl but cannot afford the patches.  Any type of strong narcotic can cause itching, and as many others have said benydrl  works well for most.  If you are getting a rash I would call your doctor because you may be allergic to the med. My internist also thinks I may have fibromylacia and was prescribed Lyrica, very expensive, even though I do have good health insurance.  I am also bipolar which I found out about 3 1/2 years ago.  I take Lamictal for that, xynax for anxiety, and klonopin for sleep.  I lost my eldest daughter last year on July 4th, 2008. I have full guardianship of my 10 year old grandson, and without him I do not think I would beable to go on.

 

Most narcotics cause severe constipation, which unfortunately can cause other problems.  I have found that Miralax, Generic (gycolax) works great for me without any of the symptoms many other laxitives cause such as extreme pain and cramping. It is a white powder, tasteless and can be mixed with anything.  I also have diverticulosis and have been hospitalized 3 times with diverticulitis because a pocket was absessed.  For this reason I have to be very careful about constipation.  My gastroenterologists have told me that if I have another attack they probably would have to remove my large bowel since my diverticulosis is everywhere, not just in the sidmoid colon, (lower left side of my bowel). 

I was wondering if anyone suffers from severe abdominal distention.  I looked like I am seven months pregnant and I am not overweight.  It really bothers me because I cannot wear alot of my clothes.  I had a hysterectomy years ago and my bloating is not caused by female problems.  Does anyone have any ideas about why I have this problem.  This has been going on for 6 months. 

 

 
Posted 7/8/2009 12:52 PM (GMT -6)

finallypainfree said...
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.

 

 

HARA SAID: I would like to know what herbs you are using and no I haven't been through all the posts yet. I so would like to ease my pain and the side effects of the narcotics.

 

Posted 7/8/2009 11:45 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Hara,

Do you get nauseated with your pain meds, suffer from constipation, or itching. I take promethazine (25mg) and it works well for the nausea.
What pain meds have you tried to date and what side effects are you experiencing? Take benydrl for itching if you have problems with that. Currently I take dilaudid, a synthetic morphine and it is the only thing that truely helps ease my pain. If you get constipated I find Miralax works great without any cramping or discomfort that other laxitives have. It is a white powder, tasteless, and can be mixed with any drink. Gycolax is the generic brand, which I use because it requires a prescription and cost much less than the over the counter Miralax. I am also curious about herbs and would like to know more about them. Lyrica does help with fibromylacia it is very expensive even with my health insurance $60.00. I have much experience and knowledge about pain meds and other drugs as well. My daughter spent the majority of the last five years in hospitals until she passed a year ago. I was her patient advocate and her caregiver. During this time I spent several hours everyday doing researh on trusted medical websites which I found to be very informative. Please reply if you think I can help.
Cindy
Posted 7/9/2009 1:31 AM (GMT -6)
yes ... narcotics make me very itchy
Posted 7/10/2009 5:14 PM (GMT -6)

Cindyrelli57 said...
Hi Hara,

Do you get nauseated with your pain meds, suffer from constipation, or itching. I take promethazine (25mg) and it works well for the nausea.
What pain meds have you tried to date and what side effects are you experiencing? Take benydrl for itching if you have problems with that. Currently I take dilaudid, a synthetic morphine and it is the only thing that truely helps ease my pain. If you get constipated I find Miralax works great without any cramping or discomfort that other laxitives have. It is a white powder, tasteless, and can be mixed with any drink. Gycolax is the generic brand, which I use because it requires a prescription and cost much less than the over the counter Miralax. I am also curious about herbs and would like to know more about them. Lyrica does help with fibromylacia it is very expensive even with my health insurance $60.00. I have much experience and knowledge about pain meds and other drugs as well. My daughter spent the majority of the last five years in hospitals until she passed a year ago. I was her patient advocate and her caregiver. During this time I spent several hours everyday doing researh on trusted medical websites which I found to be very informative. Please reply if you think I can help.
Cindy

Cindy, I have tried Oxycodone at it's lowest strength and my Doctor isn't going to give me any more narcotics he says. I can wait to Fire him anyway. I don't like him and it's not because he won't give me any narcs.

I am allergic to Morphine, Vicodin, Ultram, Ibuprophin, Mobic.... Yeah that pretty much covers that pain killers except to Tylenol and Gamapentin.

I took Benedryl in the hospital ER because I got an itching because of the Morphine plus I was jumping all over the place the nurse threatened to tie me down if I didn't calm down... hehehehe

HARA

Post Edited (Hara) : 7/12/2009 1:28:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/12/2009 12:16 PM (GMT -6)
Hara, sounds like you need to go to a pain management clinic. What state are you from. I am in Michigan and I know they have very strict regulations about narcotic prescriptions. My daughter Jennifer passed last year on July4th. She had a wonderful pain management team and they gave her anything she needed, for pain, sleep, and anxiety. She as well as myself could not handle morphine either. It made us very agressive. Dilaudid is a synthetic type of morphine and we never had the same problems and it worked well but the problem with it is it is short acting. I have to take it every four hours when my pain gets out of control. As I said I would find a pain management team. You will have to sign an agreement with them that you will only get any/all your prescriptions from them. I think if you try that they will find something that fits your needs. So many docs are afraid to write scripts and so many seem to think everyone is a drug seeker. I am lucky my internist gives me everything I need. Have you tried Lyrica which is used for fibromylagia and many people have had sucess with that. The stronger the narcotics most people do get itchy. But benedryl or other antihistimines work well to combat that side effect. Phegegen or Zofran works well for the nausea associalted with pain meds. Hope this info helps
Cindy
Posted 7/12/2009 1:26 PM (GMT -6)
Cindyrelli57, I actually had the referral office at the medical clinic call a PM clinic and they wanted to know what part of my body was hurting. OMG! I just about had a cow right there. Then come to find out I am only authorized for 3 visits. (snap) .... I told the girl just to find another one I don't care if I have to drive to Seattle or Olympia especially if they weren't going to take me and what the dr told them. He told them about my Fibro and that I had all over body pain. They didn't like that idea, as you can tell.

 

Oh before I forget. I live in Washington State. I think I'm going to have to find my own PMS.

 

HARA

Post Edited (Hara) : 7/12/2009 1:29:27 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/13/2009 9:43 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Hara,

 

Is 3 visits all your health ins. will pay for? If thats not the case find your own PMC.  call all the hospitals in your area, or look up their websites and see whats available.  Most hospitals have PMC's to go to within the hosp. or a med building nearby.  Sorry that u have to deal with all your pain. Its ashame your doc wont help you more and try stronger meds.  This might sound silly but i use icy hot when certain areas hurt then go lay on my heating pad and unbelievably it gives me some relief before the pain meds kick in.

 

Hope you get some relief. 

 

Cindy

 

Posted Yesterday 5:53 AM (GMT -6)
That's exactly what I'm doing. One hospital has two pain management programs. One was 18 weeks for 8 hours a day. I told the lady that I do have to work and that wasn't going to work for me. But the other program the have was for only 4 hours a day I think. But she is sending me the information on that.

HARA - I'm still looking for a PMS

Posted Yesterday 11:49 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Hara,

Just keep trying. When my daughter was ill it did take a lot of time before getting the right doctor. It can be so frustrating. Sounds like the PM's you are contacting you for physical therapy. What you need is a compassionate physician. Ylou have been diagnosed already so now the PM's should be trying to find out what narcs work for you.

Cindy
Posted Today 12:31 AM (GMT -6)
I'm going to go looking for something called Blue Enu Oil. A lady told me about it while I was setting up my appointment for a massage. She says she really likes it and she says it goes right into your skin and takes the pain away. I'm willing to try anything now.

HARA - I do feel a bit better after my massage except for the back of my head, so I'm going to put an ice pack on it and go back to bed.

Posted 7/17/2009 6:25 AM (GMT -6)
I used to get really itchy after starting vicidin and my friend was itchy too after she started taking them.  I take 3 vicadin a day now, but don't get itchy anymore.
Posted 7/17/2009 11:31 PM (GMT -6)
The only thing my dr gives me is hydrocodone, I wish he would do something different, it doesn't work that well but it beats nothing. The only time I had itching is when I took tylenol pm with it. I wasn't thinking about the acetaminophen and I figured it was to much of it. I don't do that anymorel
Posted 7/18/2009 9:40 AM (GMT -6)
After reading many of these replys I am so glad I have my doctor cause he always listens and gives me other things to try for my pain. So many doctors want to tell you thier opinion about what to take, how addicting it is etc. They just dont listen and I really think that most of them do not understand how sever the pain can get. My Doctor and staff came to my daughters funeral. He always says we are like family. My doctor has had a bad back injury so he can relate. Vicodin/hydrocodone has never provided any relief for me, and it seems like most doctors are willing to give those out like candy.

If you have real pain, then pills will not effect the brain.
This is a statement from the head of the veterans hospital in Detroit.
Posted 7/18/2009 4:37 PM (GMT -6)
Oh I forgot to say thank you Cindyrelli for changing the font color, it's so much easier to read without getting a headache...lol

HARA

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