Gabapentin causing itch?

[dimpep]

Hi all again,

I have been on Gabapentin twice a day from my skin over--sensitization issues and half a madopar at night for the hypnic jerks and everything else. After a week or so, the doctor advised me to use three gabapentin of 400/day to attack the skin sensitivity issue even more. However, after two days of 3 pills per day, I developed a crazy face itch. On the cheeks close to the nose, the tip of the nose and outside of the nostrils. I mean crazy itch! I have a full range of symptoms over the last 2 years (lol) but that was completely new! Now I cut back again to 1 gabapentin /day and the itch seems to be fading, as I expected, although not completely gone. I'll try quitting gabap entirely if needed.

Has anyone else experienced this with gabap or just my crazy thing?

Thanks and best to all,

Dim.

[Parminter]

Many drugs can cause pruritis, almost any in a sensitive individual.

I sympathise, it is almost unbearable.

Are you on any other drugs?

And have you seen a dermatologist? They can test to see if it is, in fact, caused by a drug.

It could be something you least expect. In my case it was a blood pressure med that I had been taking for years.

My GP did not believe it possible, but the dermatologist said it was quite common. I stopped the drug and the itching was gone in 24 hours.

[dimpep in reply to Parminter]

Hi,

Usually when the itching is not accompanied by redness or something visual it's neurological. My itching was completely "clean" no visual cues whatsoever. No redness no eczema no nothing. I completely quit on gabapentin and modopar and it's way better.

Best,

Dim.

[Bpsuper]

Itching seems to bew one of the side effects of Gabapentin. I take 2 x 300 mgs per day and get it on my back and shoulders but it is sufferable compared with the RLS.

[ARKSOTO]

gabapentin and methadone both make me itch horribly. I've literally worn out 3 body brushes in just a few years because of it and finally went with a small metal 'rake' type back scratcher with a telescoping handle (I bought 2 so I'd have a back-up). Once I switched to gabapentin encarbil the itching has calmed down by about 80% - I attribute the remaining problem to the methadone. After 40+ years of increasingly severe RLS I really don't think there is a perfect treatment. Side effects abound.

[Hidden in reply to ARKSOTO]

Gabapentin made my hair fall out!