SEVERE itching!!!! How to make it stop!!

[skittlezzzz]

I took 240mg of codeine and I have had the most severe itching in my life. I feel like I am taking layers of skin off. Every area is eventually getting their turn. Started with the head and neck, then feet and hands, now its my back. I knew itching can be a side effect but seriously like this? My face feels hot and my body looks kinda red from all the scratching I guess. Will a normal antihistimine work for my case? I have Benadryl and Claritin. Can I take the Claritin so that I dont have to worry about being drowsy or will nothing work for a case this bad? Do I just gotta wait it out?

 

[Tripman]

I would recommend the benadryl. Loratadine - Claratyne will help somewhat, but diphenhydramine is far superior.

If you dont want the increased sedation try the loratadine though.

It certainly can't hurt you.

 

[effie]

Codeine will do that to you hah.. it's the histamine release, can make you puff up and go bright red as well as itchy if you take a high dose/are susceptible/don't dose yourself up with antihistamines first. It will settle on its own, codeine's not hugely long-lasting, but as Trips said, if you have antihistamines then take them for sure! I'd definitely vote diphenhydramine as well unless drowsiness is a real concern.

 

[SNR]

The itch from hydrocodone is at the perfect intensity to be enjoyable IMO, just saying haha.

You might try hydroxyzine, although this drug might be harder to obtain then diphenhydramine. I find hydroxyzine's sedative effects much less pronounced, and I definitely feel that hydroxyzine is a much better opiate potentiator than diphenhydramine.

~snr

 

[whippa craka]

50mg diphenhydramine should do it. Don't take above 75 or 100, the side's generally are not pleasent.

 

[pally pete]

As the others have said diphenhydramine or maybe even try Promethazine, ive found this also works well and its available over the counter here in the U.K

 

[benzofan]

I always use hydroxyzine when i encounter this problem (e.g with Codeine or DHC)

 

[nAON]

If you're taking the 1st gen antihistamines (diphenydramine, hydroxyzine, promethazine, and some be sure to look it up on wikipedia or something first), be wary of taking more than 3-4 pills, as you'll get problems such as tachycardia and psychosis from the anticholinergic effects.

The 2nd and 3rd gen antihitsamines (loratadine, cetirizine, and some others) don't have as many side effects, so if you get crazy itches like I do and end up popping antihistamines all day, these are best for it.

 

[whippa craka]

If you're taking the 1st gen antihistamines (diphenydramine, hydroxyzine, promethazine, and some be sure to look it up on wikipedia or something first), be wary of taking more than 3-4 pills, as you'll get problems such as tachycardia and psychosis from the anticholinergic effects.

The 2nd and 3rd gen antihitsamines (loratadine, cetirizine, and some others) don't have as many side effects, so if you get crazy itches like I do and end up popping antihistamines all day, these are best for it.

I doubt he would feel and dissociation effects from < 100mg Benadryl. In fact he would need several hundred.

I find no other 2nd or 3rd gen antihistamines to work with opiate itches at all.

 

[FlippingTop]

I have seen antihistamines refereed to as X generation before.

What exactly does this mean?

 

[nAON]

Basically 1st generation antihistamines are gonna have anticholinergic effects, such as drowsiness, increased heart rate, and delerium at higher doses. 2nd and 3rd gen don't cross BBB so you get a lot less side effects from them, and so can usually do higher doses without the problems associated with the 1st gen.