Tramadol & itching

[m1946]

Strangely after a few years taking up to 100mg Tramadol to alleviate my RLS symptoms I have developed severe itching with localised "chicken pox" type pimples mainly on my arms and on the inside of my right thigh? For the last 4 nights it is in the main the itchiness which has prevented me from sleeping not the RLss!!! I am wondering whether it is the increase in Tramadol to 150mg which is making the difference although I have tried to get by on 100mg but inevitably loosing sleep now from both causes!!!!

Is there a topical cream which can be recommended on this site?

I am waiting to see my doctor to discuss coming off Tramadol?

Does Pregabalin or the other often mentioned drug Gabapentine cause the skin to itch?

I must admit I have had a good run with Tramadol often achieving 8 hours sleep but over the last 4 weeks or so I am now only achieving 2 to 3 hours at the most with an hours sleep after a breakfast!!! (Strange when daylight comes and I dose off after breakfast I never experience RLS! -it's a very distressing condition)

Help!!!

[SueJohnson]

It's possible but fairly rare for gabapentin or pregabalin to cause an allergic reaction.

For the tramadol itching Madlegs1 recommended Eurax - a prescription cream.

[Madlegs1]

It's likely the increase in Tramadol causing the itching.

Opiate itch is one of the main side effects of opioids.

It is also possible that you are augmenting on tramadol, although it is quite rare. About 3%!

As Sue says, Eurax is good for most itches.

Good luck.

[Jumpey]

Opioid itching is real and common.I get it too.

[m1946 in reply to Jumpey]

Do you experience very small pimple like spots which are soooo itchy? I get them on my arms and on the inside of my right thigh!!!

[Jumpey in reply to m1946]

No I don't. No physical symptoms in that way.

[CORFUORBUST]

I was on Tramadol for years and I ended up with EXACTLY the same symptoms. On both hands and half way up my arms and also inside the left thigh. The itching was so bad I wanted to cut that part of my leg out. I stopped taking it and within days the itching stopped. I then tried Oxy and that gave me exactly the same side effects. I then went back to co codamol and the same thing happened. I am now classed as allergic to opiods. I read once that a few months off and you should be able to go back but, not for me, I get the same symptoms every time. They have given me paracetamol now but that, does nothing. I just saw a new neurologist and he has suggested a new tablet but I have not been given it yet. It is called Baclofen 5mg TDS and after a week increase to 10mg three x day.

[David7 in reply to CORFUORBUST]

Baclofen is a muscle relaxer. I had the same itching you describe with the little pimples that are intense. I finally took Benadryl and Hydroxyzine for a few days, and it went away.

I also used a anti itch lotion that has Pramoxine in it, very helpful. Most OTC anti-itch lotions have parmoxine in them.

Check for it.

All the Best

David

[SueJohnson in reply to CORFUORBUST]

Baclofen may help a little but is not likely to stop your RLS. Did you every try gabapentin or pregabalin?

[CORFUORBUST in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes tried nearly everything out there. Unfortunately, had mad side effects from them all.

[CORFUORBUST in reply to SueJohnson]

Should also mention it is for PLMD and not so much for my RLS. It is so bad now and I wake with legs banging so hard on my calves that I cannot walk in the morning. Also I have it in my arms, head and whole body. I am covered in bruises daily from the thrashing about of my arms and head.

[SueJohnson in reply to CORFUORBUST]

Another one to try is dipyridamole. You might want to discuss this with your doctor. It has helped some people on this forum and another forum I am on and has completely eliminated RLS in some. In the winter 2022 edition of Night Walkers, the publication of RLS.org there is an article by Sergi Ferre about dipyridamole discussing the effectiveness of it in a 2 week double blind placebo controlled study showing it completely ameliorated all symptoms. The study was by Dr. Garcia Borreguero movementdisorders.onlinelib... sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[CORFUORBUST in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks for the info. I will have to wait for my next appointment in June, or contact the cardio dept, to discuss this one as I am on aspirin as I had a stent put in a year ago.

[nick-the-turk]

been on Pregabalin for a good few years now and no itching or any other side effects