codeine and itching

Helen518 · Post by **Helen518** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 9:39 pm

Has anyone experienced itching with codeine?

Post by **Polar Bear** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:18 pm

Couldn't exactly say I've experienced itching, tho I do find I am dealing with the 'feeling' of dry skin. Don't know that I would have put it down to the codeine. I only take 30mg daily (along with requip).

Aiken · Post by **Aiken** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:06 am

Itching with opioids is fairly common. I used to get itchy feet every time I took hydrocodone for my back, but now that I take it nightly for RLS, I don't really get the itching anymore. If you've only just started taking codeine, you may find that the itching fades away after you've taken it for a while.

sardsy75 · Post by **sardsy75** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:16 am

I'm on 60mg Codeine/night (along with everythin else) and cant say i've had problems with itching.

Only major problem I have is with the feeling that my feet are dry and on fire. So I keep a large tub of moisturising cream, that includes aloe vera and peppermint, beside the bed.

Some nights are ok; others i wake up around 3am thinking my feet are on fire. Even sleeping with one or both feet sticking out from under the covers doesnt work.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:35 am

YUP!!!!

All opioids make me itch. Initially, I had to take a safe antihistamine when taking them. Now, I manage to get by without, but every night, like clockwork, I start itching madly all over after my dose.

sardsy75 · Post by **sardsy75** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:34 am

okie dokie then ... touch wood (*knockin on head*) that I don't get the same problem if I have to increase my dosage or change to a different opioid

Burning feet are one thing I can put up with ... but itching? Yeesh, it'd be like having chicken pox all over again!

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:54 pm

I used to love the itchies, oh my god.. Scratching was one of the most blissful things I could ever do during those times, to the point where it evoked physical expression (all smiles).

Indeed itching is common with all opiates, however Codeine in particular is one of THE worst offenders, and it's often a complaint of recreational users.

You could try some cream or something, but unless you think you can tolerate it, I would not try taking an anti-histamine. It will help somewhat, but it could also set off your RLS and symptoms will break through your relief barrier.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:21 pm

I just made sure I used a newer antihistamine that I know doesn't affect my RLS. Allegra and Zyrtec both work for me. I think some people have difficulties with them, so they aren't for everyone. But, they do the job when I need it without making the RLS worse.

Also, severe itching can be an adverse reaction, something I meant to put in before and forgot. My first dose of methadone made me itch so badly that I was sure I was going to not be able to tolerate it. Everything on the Internet terrified me, saying that this intense itching meant allergy.

So, when in ANY doubt, see/call your doc. I called mine, he said it might get better over time and not to worry. Indeed it did get better. I still itch, but not like that first night. And, that is a good thing.

Like Zach, there is something intensely satisfying about scratching though...

sardsy75 · Post by **sardsy75** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:37 pm

sardsy75 wrote:I'm on 60mg Codeine/night (along with everythin else) and cant say i've had problems with itching.

OK ... I take what I said above back.

You know how you do some things unconsciously ... like scratch your arm, or your foot ... well, the itching topic was still at the forefront of my mind last night and holy cow i didn't realise that i did so much fidgeting just to itch different places all over.

I realise now that i've been doing it unconsciously for gawd knows how long.

All I gotta say is that i'm thankful that I can use one of the stronger anti-histamines to stop it, coz there's nothing more annoying when you're tryin to read a book in bed and you're constantly reachin below the covers to scratch your leg or foot.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:39 pm

When I started to itch a few days ago, it seemed most likely that it was methadone causing it – and, sure enough, I found the answer right here!

Somehow it doesn’t seem so bad. It’s not like any other kind of itch I can recall; scratching feels pretty good, and it doesn’t make the itch worse (as with a bite, for example).

Then, too, in spite of the itches, my skin actually feels much better than when I was taking Mirapex and Ambien. (I can’t separate out the effects of these two since I took them together.) My lips are not as chapped and my skin is smoother all over. What’s more, I’m enjoying skin contact more than I have in quite a while; that makes my husband glad.

So far not a bad trade-off.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:16 pm

Just be sure to keep hydrated regardless and watch out for constipation. It can be a real killer. Methadone doesn't seem to be -too- terrible in that department though.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:01 pm

I'd agree, Maria, that the act of scratching is extremely gratifying...