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Misc Oxycodone and/or Lorazepam: can they cause numbness and tingling in the hands?

C

Canberra Slim

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 22, 2011
Messages
28
I've been taking 1 mg daily Lorzepam/Ativan for about 2 years. Once or twice a week I also take 1 mg. Oxycodone; I'm a cancer survivor and both have been prescribed to me. (for the record I also am hypothyroid due to radiation treatments and take 100 mcg Synthroid daily)

For maybe the last 18 months I've been experiencing increasing and now constant numbness and tingling in my fingers, both hands. The tingling often extends up into the forearms and even to the shoulders. Nerve conduction studies and a cervical MRI show no nerve involvement, no carpal tunnel. I have been diagnosed with borderline Raynaud's Phenomenon, which is a circulation problem. But that usually presents in the form of attacks of cold fingers and toes related to weather. This is constant, and although my hands do get cold in cooler weather, the numb and tingly feeling is constant - even on hot days, even in a hot bath.

My question: could this be related to either the Oxy or the Ativan? I'm currently tapering off the latter, down now to a half dose and expect to be off it completely in a month or two. So we'll see if that clears it up. It seems to me that the Oxy couldn't be causing it since I take so little... but I'm no doctor and my neurologist has said nothing about this. Hence my question to other Bluelighters who may have greater experience.

Oh and I also take Lipitor daily and have for 15 years, so that may also be a factor. Although again, one would think the condition would have reared its ugly head before now.

Any and all responses gratefully accepted, with thanks.

Slim
 
This is really something you have to discuss with a doctor. I would not think the medications you are taking would cause this. Also, do you really only take 1mg of oxycodone or was that a typo? I wouldn't even think there was such a small pill or you could accurately split a 5 mg up in 1/5ths.

Only thing I would suggest is monitoring you blood sugar(glucometer is relatively cheap, check it 3-4x daily, make sure in morning prior to eating to get a fasting sugar level) and full liver/kidney panel blood tests, just to rule out any metabolic issues. I'm not a doctor but I feel this would be a first line in the course of action to determine what is going on with you.

It would help to know if this is worse at certain times of day? The morning, before/after eating, etc.?
 
RT - first, thanks for the reply. And yes, that was my error, it's a 5 mg oxy pill, sorry about that.

Thanks too for the other interesting and helpful info. I do get the liver/kidney panel done every 3 months or so as part of my regular stuff and nothing unusual seems to turn up. Another friend has suggested checking for diabetes as well, but again my doctor has never suggested anything about that based on my blood work. And finally no, not worse at any time of day nor does the feeling seem to relate to meals, sleep, etc.

Just a big mystery!

Thanks for your concern, I really appreciate it.
 
Ok, I didn't really think it sounded like a diabetic issue, but its always good to check. You want to go top down with any complaints that are presented, or worst case scenario down. I know they already assessed the spine for abnormalities so that is a good thing. If you get blood work every 3 months that is good, with your medical history I can understand it. Does the doctor order you to fast before the test? Typically not eating anything for 12 hours prior.
 
Darn, just wiped out my reply. oh well...

anyway I wanted to thank you again for your interest. I do always fast for 12 hours prior to blood work and my current thinking is that the combo of Raynaud's, damage to my immune system and/or thyroid from radiation and the ever-present stress are causing all this. Although from anecdotes I've read Lipitor could also be a factor. A minor medical mystery.

I appreciate your time and attention, friend!
 
I was using fentanyl patches last year. Not by prescription. I used sandoz nongel (since been discontinued) By cutting strips and putting between cheek and gum

I started getting numbness and tingling in my hands at night. It was like carpal tunnel but wasn't. I would awake in pain in my hands to the point I couldn't go back to sleep. Long story short I went to neurologist for test of nerves. They were responsive. But supposedly crushed due to carpal tunnel syndrome. The doctors all couldn't understand how this came on so suddenly no previous issue. They wanted to operate ASAP. I asked for therapy as I was scared of surgery n also had just started a school semester. Figured could do surgery on break

I read somewhere that a side effect of fentanyl patches was tingling and numbness in extremities. I realized my symptoms had come on after using the patches for some months. I decided to stop the patches and see what happened. Within two months of stopping (and some occupational therapy) my hands were back to normal. I'm so glad I didn't allow the doctors to possibly ruin my hands with that surgery!!

So my short answer is...yes. Some opiates can have numbness and tingling in hands as a side effect. Been there.
 
Diamond - thanks for the reply and sorry to read of all you've been going through. I used Fentanyl patches for a few weeks back in '09 during radiation, but not since. I'll definitely ask my doctor about it though, but I'm guessing I would have had symptoms like yours back then if the Fentanyl was the culprit. Maybe what I'm experiencing is a cumulative effect of 4 years of intermittent oxy use? Hard to say. At any event I'm very glad to read that you got through it without surgery, and that you're back to normal!
 
I did fentanyl for quite a while before ever having that happen. It was really weird.

And at the time I was positive it was the fentanyl n ppl thought I was crazy but the more research I did the more it made sense.

I still do oxy. Still do dope. But have not ever had this issue since not doing fentanyl. And to be honest, I was using a *lot* of fentanyl. When I switched to dope I was immediately on like 25 bags a day equivalent
 
Anyway I was commenting not because I think the fentanyl affected you per se, but I have read it is a rare side effect of opiates/opioids. Now, I've never been prescribed oxy, just take em recreationally, but if one opioid can have that effect, well maybe you're the rare side effect of another...
Idk. I really only researched it with fentanyl. Have u looked into what's happening to u as a possible side effect of oxy? Researched it to see if it has happened in others? Not so far fetched when you consider opioids affecting neurotransmitters...
 
I've had my right arm paralysed for about 6 months from shooting heroin but it's completely back to normal now..
I had it one other time where a part of both hands (about 2 fingers) became numb and I was scared it would happen again but it didn't..
It lasted maybe two weeks and I also used heroin then although I think i didn't IV anything at that time..

But really, I don't know how to help you all I can do is share my experience..
 
Thanks to all for your input. Think it makes sense that if I'm tapering down the Lorazepam that I knock off the Oxy as well, even though I only take 5 or 10 mgs in any given week. Also take Ambien from time to time, but infrequently enough so that I'd doubt it would have anything to do with all this. But of course you can never be sure. Once I'm off it all I'll see what happens over the next 6 months.

Onward...
 
I have been on a train of narcotics for 7 years now.. I started out on oxy 10 with darvocets then moved to oxy 15s 4X a day well my hands kept going numb and tingling to the point it felt like my hand had been smashed and pain in my whole arm. So then I was put on dilaudid 4X a day and Morphine 60 3X a day I did real well with this until I decided go off cold turkey with the morphine because I thought my insurance was getting canceled and I couldn't afford it. Well it ended up not getting canceled and I went on morphine 30 3X a day to get back to where I was when I finally got back to the 60s they started making me sick so I was switched to kadians those drained me I was so tired. So just recently I was switched back to try oxy 10 mine don't have tylenol and still have my dilaudid and I'm back to horrible numbness tingling and pain. I'm sure my doctor is just gonna love me complaining again I'm hoping I can just go back to the morphine 30 that seemed to be perfect for the pain with the dilaudid for breakthrough pain
 
Boy, that's a lot. Much more opiods than I've ever had experience with. I'll let the more experienced people here address your issues, Ms. H. Hope you get some peace and relief from the pain. Have you ever had any nerve conduction studies? I had a second round recently - since my earlier posts - and have now been diagnosed with definite Peripheral Neuropathy. It's idiopathic, but at least I know it's not just in my mind!
 
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