New medication with itching side effects!!

[Kells22]

Hello. I’ve recently been given Dihydrocodeine for my restless leg,I was on co codamol,had tried Amitriptyline which had made it worse and have been given quinine. Last night was a bad night again! I’ve been prescribed 30mg Dihydrocodeine 4 times a day when required. Had to take the full 4 over time in the night as the restless leg was still there,then the itching started!! I’ve had about 2 hrs sleep again. Has anyone else tried this medication and had the same side effect? I did take a antihistamine,cetinzine,in the night but it’s not really helped much. Tia

[Hidden]

The quinine wont help that is for leg cramps not RLS.

The dihydrocodeine is good, personally I'd save it for later in the day so it is more effective against the RLS which is worse at night, (I'd go for 100mg about 5 or 6pm with another 100mg as you are going to bed - but that's me and Im not a Dr!!!). Some here have experienced itching from opioid drugs. Don't take an antihistamine for it as it will most likely make things worse RLS wise.

Have you looked at gentle iron? Would be a good idea to search this site for it and read a couple of threads - a number here have found it helps.

Amitriptyline is a b1tch and is often prescribed for RLS suffers, (I've seen a good number of people on here have got it as I did).

Hope things improve soon

raffs

[Kells22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. The tablets are 30mg each so that would mean me taking at least 6 a day? I do take it later on because like you say,it’s at night when it’s needed. The Amitriptyline was a bitch!! I stopped taking that last week. I’ve not taken the quinine since getting the Dihydrocodeine. I will look that up rather than taking antihistamines. Do you take Dihydrocodeine?

[Hidden in reply to Kells22]

No I don't take the Diydrocodeine but I take similar drugs that are in the same family. Seems quite a hefty dose you are prescribed, I'd try and use less myself limiting them to the latter part of the day and see if I could manage on that initially.

[Mounce01 in reply to Kells22]

Amitriptyline is horrible! I got off all my meds about 6 mos ago bc I was sick of all the side effects! I get chronic migraines and never sleep more than 2 hours at a time so neurologist gave me amitriptyline 25 mg for to help sleep and for migraines. At first I was Leary to get back on any meds but then thought if it could help me sleep and muy headaches then taking just one pill wouldn't be bad, yeah right! Several weeks later I'm suffering from severe ringing in the ears, dry mouth, excessive hungar, tremors, and so much more but what's worse is my rls is back worst than EVER!!! It went away after I got off all my meds and got my system flushed out. Now I'm going cold turkey off amitriptyline this is my 4th day without body is going nuts but I will get through this! So all in all if at all possible get off as much meds as you can! It was best thing I EVER did! After I get through this I will never take medicine again I'll just tough out the bad days and just keep praying that sleep will come back on its own.

[Vonnie70]

Dihydracodeine (or DF118s) are an analgesic, and I’ve found quite often if I’ve taken a lot it does make you itchy, .be warned causes constipation,! ‘Tis one of the yummy side effects, it should pass once it’s fully in yr system.

Quinine is no good as rightly said already it’s for cramps so of no benefit at all, a gp I saw initially put me on them, wasn’t till I went in after months tearing my hair out another GP laughed and said no wonder!

[Kells22 in reply to Vonnie70]

I don’t take the quinine anymore either,just take Dihydrocodeine. I’m already given something by the gp for constipation as co codamol that I was on before caused it too.

[nathanwilde]

I didn't have time to read other replies so if it's been said before then I apologise, but take an antihistamine with the DHC. That should stop the itching.

[Kells22 in reply to nathanwilde]

Thank you. Last night seemed better so hopefully my body will adjust.