Any cure for opioid itching?

[RLSofManyYears]

Currently I'm being woken in the night more by the constant itching than by my body twitching. The itching occurs at points over my upper body. I also itch during the day and it is quite obvious during Zoom calls . I'm also scratching myself even as I'm typing just now. I'm glad that the RLS twitching is much less but the itching is such a pain.

I was on 200ugm Temgesic (1 tablet) for about a year but I now need to take two tablets to control the RLS twitching and this has caused the itching to appear. So does anyone have any experience of this and how to reduce the itch?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Joolsg]

Oh no. Sorry to hear this. Have you tried Desloratadine? It's a safe anti histamine which I've been taking to reduce opioid sweats but it should also help itching. Or just normal loratadine or cetirizine?

[rls-insomniac in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Jools. Out of interest has the desloratadine helped you with the opioid sweats at all? I have to take an anti histamine daily anyway because of my hands. But I also suffer with opioid sweats.

[Joolsg in reply to rls-insomniac]

Not completely but they have helped by about 60%. It's incredibly annoying because I thought I was through the menopausal hot flushes and night sweats but these are exactly the same. Better in winter as well.I hate having to take medication to counter the side effects of other medications.

The desloratadine definitely reduces the number and severity of the sweats so worth trying.

[rls-insomniac in reply to Joolsg]

Ah, I've got exactly the same symptoms and like you, I thought that my menopausal hot flushes and sweats had settled down, only for them to make an unwelcome return again. I'll try and get some Desloratadine and see if it helps. All the best. x

[Joolsg in reply to rls-insomniac]

Same to you. Hope it helps. Mine have definitely settled more on the desloratadine. Still there but....

[puzzler1 in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Jools,It's very interesting to hear about the hot sweats and to be honest it's that problem that's driving me away from Temgesic. They really knock me off my feet and make me feel awful.

Can you tell me a bit more about the Desloratadine please. How long have you been taking it, the dose, when you take it, etc.

Thanks

[Joolsg in reply to puzzler1]

Hi puzzler,I take one pill at around 8pm because most of the sweats happen in the evening or during the night but only my head, neck and chest. Never the usual underarms. Very weird. The dose is 5mg.

[LotteM]

I second Joolsg. If you want to try it, it seems safe enough to do so. I hope it helps.

[Steg12]

HiI have been on Oxycotin for nearly 20 years

160mg a day on that it kept 80% of my pain away stopped the twitching but now they are lowering my dose because of all the problems in the USA I was taking 80mg in the morning and 80mg at night now down to 40mg and the first week I was climbing the walls I literally shuck myself out of bed I shake all the time now the pain is at 8/10 for 25/7 and all they say is work through it. I tried eventually they gave me 10mg back and said sorry took you down too quick. I said remember I have been on these for 20 years before that I was on Oxynorm and before that tramadol but ended up taking

Over 20 pills a day . Now you cannot even see a doctor . Sorry not very helpful.

[Irmajs]

Yes opioids always make me itch. I am taking them now while recovering from a hip replacement. (I take CBD for my RLS.) I take a 1/2 Benadryl with the opioid. I know Benadryl by itself can aggravating RLS, but combining it with the opioid seems to be okay. Good luck.

[Lolly53]

Yes I too suffer from opioid itching. I live in the US and am very fortunate to have found Methadone to control my severe RLS. In my research I found that Pregablin can help with the itching. I currently take 100 mg of Pregablin and it has really helped but not 100%. More like 75%. Hope you can find relief!

[RLSofManyYears]

Thanks for your feedback. I've now asked my GP for Desloratadine and am waiting for a response from them. I'll keep you updated.

[puzzler1]

Hi, I've suffered with itching too. Not sure if it's solely because of the Temgesic or connected with old age! My doctor prescribed a soap substitute which you use on the affected parts when having a bath instead of soap. I've found it very successful. It's called Dermol 500 lotion and it comes in a 500ml bottle with a pump spout on top. It's on prescription but I imagine it's available over the counter as well. It's completely stopped my arms from itching.Hope things improve for you.

[RLSofManyYears]

Update: the GP has written a prescription now and so I will update you after a couple of weeks. I'm also finally getting my iron levels checked as well.😀