Opioid itching help

[Jumpey]

I take morphine for RLS and one of the challenging side effects is all over body itching.I have tried 10mg of Clarityn and 10mg of cetirizine hydrochloride. Neither worked.How do other people manage this? Is there an alternative drug? Was the dose I took too low?Any suggestions gratefully received.

[beady3]

I k now how you feel I take Oramoph and yes I get itching but just on my back , I just rub a moisturiser all over that helps me

[Jumpey in reply to beady3]

I'm glad it helps you.The itching I experience is severe and prolonged. Moisturiser doesn't help me.

[SueJohnson]

Try OTC allegra (Fexofenadine) or prescription Desloratadine.

[Jumpey in reply to SueJohnson]

Has this worked for you ?

[SueJohnson in reply to Jumpey]

I don't use an opioid but I am prescribed prescription Desloratadine for allergies.

[Tillytrots]

Hi I have been on morphine for years I do get itchy I put it down to my fibromyalgia as it is one of the many things I find Dermol cream helps as my skin is very dy but the cream is for itching I find it good and I have used a lot of creams, I hope this helps. Happy Xmas and a healthy New Year. Tillytrots x

[Jumpey in reply to Tillytrots]

Cheers for the suggestion. Happy Xmas to you too.Hope it's a peaceful one.x

[restlessstoz]

Hi Jumpey, I am on buprenorphine patches which control my RL symptoms beautifully. However, I am often, especially on the first nights of a new patch, am kept semi-awake with itching all over my body. It's NOT dry skin related at all for me.

Little itches but nonetheless impossible to sleep through. My head, face, neck, body, legs, arms, back in fact all over. I have tried fexofenadine and Claratyne and neither really work well for me, though Claratyne maybe more than fexofenadine. I will be very interested to read more posts if anyone has success with other medications.

And I wish everyone on HU a very safe and peaceful and RL symptom free festive season🥰🥰🥰. I long for a day when this site is redundant because the treatment worldwide has caught up with the science and knowledge and no one needs it any more!

[Jumpey in reply to restlessstoz]

Thanks for your feedback .My itching isn't dry skin either.It is definitely the morphine.And it's relentless and all over my body like yourself.I'm trying fexofedine tonight. Neither clarityn nor cetirizine has worked so far.

A healthful and peaceful Xmas to you too.x

[SueJohnson in reply to restlessstoz]

You might want to try Desloratadine which is a prescription medication.

[restlessstoz in reply to SueJohnson]

thank you Sue, I'll follow that up.

[Wairahi]

Have you thought of switching to a different opioid? I am on low-dose methadone and I have no trouble with itching. By contrast, in the distant past when I have been prescribed morphine for kidney stones I had a lot of itching.

Just a thought...

Best of luck.

[Jumpey]

I also had itching with Tramadol . But good to know methadone works for you.

[Rwall]

My experience is that the dose is too high if you are itching. For me, if I take even a few grains over my dose (I cut the 2 mg tablet into 1/4 portions), here come the itchies! I also take an antihistamine with it. I am technically allergic to anything remotely related to codeine, Buprenorphine, etc. so I have to be careful. However, without it the RLS is traumatic. So, that combined with a small dose of Xanax seems to make it manageable. Plus, I've discovered that if I use Biofreeze which contains menthol on my feet and claf muscles, it also helps to calm me down. Best of luck!!!!!

[Jumpey in reply to Rwall]

Thanks for your feedback.I don't think it's dose related for me.