Remedies For Side Effects Associated W/ Pain Meds (The Itch!)...

[acexnx316]

I wanted to start a thread for people to share some remedies for the side effects of pain meds (Like itching, constipation, nausea/vomiting, etc.) so that people may have a place to come to not only share theirs to help others out, but for those to come who may be pain free, but now suffering from side effects that someone else may have alleviated completely via a remedy they came across (Whether it be pharmaceutical in nature, or not) and would like to share to help others! I, myself get awful itching episodes from the pain meds I am prescribed and do not enjoy it at all, in fact I find it a bit annoying! I have [obviously] tried just about every anti-histamine (AKA Benadryl/Diphenhydramine) on the market with some success, but it seems hit or miss. I would like to hear from others, what works best for them when it comes to this side effect. Also, please feel free to share remedies for any other side effect that you may have experienced (And successfully alleviated or improved) yourself. And I absolutely invite everyone to post up side effects that they may still/currently be suffering from, actively searching for a successful remedy. My hope is that this thread will accrue information that will help many others (Including myself) and just somewhere to come and share information!

I will help start with a remedy that has helped me with constipation (Whenever it happens). I will use Colace (Docusate Sodium) for a 2-3 days and on the 3rd day add a stimulate laxative in a very low dose (Because they some times bother my stomach, with cramping, however stimulant laxatives can work very well for even those who are sensitive, if the dose is low. This combination helps quite a bit, and I never take it for more than a week; because if you continue to take these medications, your digestive tract will almost start to rely on them and over time, it will be even harder for you to have a natural bowel movement because of this! So if possible, try to take at least a week off every 1-2 weeks of use (If the constipation is extreme). Now I am not a doctor, so take my advice with a bit of salt, but that is what has worked for me! Also, a few other remedies that have worked (And that I will throw in from time to time to mix things up) is Miralax and Magnesium citrate! The Magnesium can work like a supplement and could be taken daily, if desired; and the Miralax is another form of stool softener. Mineral oil can also be useful! However, if you feel you are having extreme problems, have not had a bowel movement in over a week, see any signs of blood in your stool/toilet and/or are in pain/discomfort, I would suggest contacting your doctor and/or going to the E.R. immediately! As bowel related issues can indeed become life threatening and should be taken no less seriously than other forms of sickness/illness. So with that warning in place, please proceed in sharing your own remedies that have helped you and/or others to cope with and help alleviate side effects from medication you take that can be found bothersome, if not a health risk!

Have a great day everyone, I look forward to reading your replies! Take care and be safe!

 

[HYPNOTIC.]

I take a couple of table spoons of basic psyllium husk a day with water. This is usually enough to stay regular but if I need extra help, I'll get and drink a half a bottle of Magnesium Citrate. It's cherry flavored and sort of yuckie but works. Half an hour later you're all cleared out.

If it's been too long and a 'cork' is the problem (ha-ha), then your stuck using a supository.

 

[conmce36]

How about headaches. I usually feel great in the beginning and then after a few hours I begin to develop a headache or as I continue to take more of the medicine. Anyone else ever suffer from this or know of anything to do?

 

[FrankieGirl]

Yes, its called a "rebound" headache.

I sometimes get them, and one gel cap advil usually does the trick!

 

[miss delivery]

I usually wake up the next morning with a booming headache - especially with the yellow 10mg V's. Usually just aspirin works in several hours - with some food!

 

[Guest]

i try to use stool softners everday(i remember)after 2 days if still a no go a laxitive.as for the itches most of the time i can deal with them.mostly though i just like knowing the med is working (unless in public)

 

[acexnx316]

Thanks for all the contributions everyone! It's def helping to move along this thread and shape it nicely!

Take care and be safe all!

 

[schumer]

Thanks for the info

 

[Sunny1]

My most problematic side effect is nausea. I know this is pretty common & I can usually offset it with food & a full stomach, but it becomes annoying when I need to take my medication and I'm not hungry! :/ In order to fully avoid feeling nauseous, I have to eat carbs or something else heavy which I wouldn't otherwise include in my diet. I'm a healthy eater (aka weight conscious) & wish there was a way to eliminate the nausea that results from pain meds other than loading up on food every time I need to take a pill. Has anyone found anything else that helps avoid this side effect?

Thx! /default_smile.png Sunny

 

[acexnx316]

My most problematic side effect is nausea. I know this is pretty common & I can usually offset it with food & a full stomach, but it becomes annoying when I need to take my medication and I'm not hungry! :/ In order to fully avoid feeling nauseous, I have to eat carbs or something else heavy which I wouldn't otherwise include in my diet. I'm a healthy eater (aka weight conscious) & wish there was a way to eliminate the nausea that results from pain meds other than loading up on food every time I need to take a pill. Has anyone found anything else that helps avoid this side effect?

Thx! /default_smile.png Sunny

Sunny...

I've had this problem with other meds and of course a very common symptom when I get migraines... my neurologist prescribes me a few meds that do work quite well but are indeed by prescription only. So you will have to ask your doctor to write a script for these. However, this shouldn't be a problem if you explain to your doc what is going on.

The first is Metoclopramide and the second is Promethazine.

If getting a prescription from a doctor isn't an option for you, I have found that some OTC (Over the counter) antihistamines, such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) when taken about 30-60min before dosing with the medication which is causing the issue(s) seems to work for some as well.

It may be worth it for you to try one of these options! Hopefully one or more of them will work for you! If you have any other questions/concerns, please feel free to PM me!

Take care and be safe!

 

[Bonjon]

Benadryl definitely does help with the histamine release some opiates cause

 

[Guest]

How about headaches. I usually feel great in the beginning and then after a few hours I begin to develop a headache or as I continue to take more of the medicine. Anyone else ever suffer from this or know of anything to do?

This used to happen to me all the time. I take 1 ibuprofen with my second and third dose.

 

[xangret]

I use a cream called Paraderm for the itch. Don't know if its called something different in other places, it basically a first-aid cream. Antiseptic/anesthetic/anti-inflammatory. Works a treat, within 5mins id say, and if the itch has already started, then I get that added pleasure of scratching away as I apply it lol.

 

[Shane032]

Call me weird, but I love the itch I get from opiates. It just reminds me of the day when I first took H and laid on my recliner scratching myself for hours while nodding. That was the best high I have ever gotten in my life, and i chased that feeling for years. Now I've been sober from opiates, besides daily suboxone and a handful of relapses, for the past 5 years. But I think about those beginning days so often and struggle to avoid relapse

 

[buckeye85]

I take prilosec otc. It helps the nausea, and constipation.

 

[Kcobra]

I tried diphenhydramine as a potentiator for oxycodone.. Not only did it help to bring me the wonderful nodddddd with a smaller dose, actually like half the usual dose it takes to bring them on.. It also seemed to take care of the usual itch.

 

[Kcobra]

I took two 25 mg tabs of the diphenhydramine.. A box of 50 is only like $2.00 at family dollar.

 

[SchecterDamien]

Not sure if others have experienced this but I used to get intense episodes of acid reflux (especially with kodeen products) to the point where it was literally flowing out of my mouth. The burning in my chest and throat was unbearable. Tried a med (by script) called Nexium. Absolute lifesaver! One dose before the party began and never a problem.

As far as the itch goes it was the same thing: only with kodeen products. Maybe an allergic reaction but I found it was only after a long period away from meds that the itch was unbearable. As far as remedies go, I found that nothing helped after a long absence. If the itch was during continued or extended use it wasn't too bad. I just considered it part of the experience.

For nausea, I truly found that just hitting the bathroom and getting it over with was the best. Felt great afterward! Always drank fluids with meds to help the process along.

 

[kindsty]

A. Dealing With Troublesome Side Effects:

1. The "itchies" affect users of oral narcotics above moderate doses and can be reduced in intensity by taking a tablet of clemastine furmarate (Tavist), the new non-drowsy anti-histamines Allegra or Claritin, or meclizine hydrochloride (Dramamine II) an hour before taking the dose of opiates, then using an old fashioned drowsiness producing antihistamine with moderate to strong anticholinergic action like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), dimenhydrinate (Original Dramamine), or brompheniramine (Dimetapp) to boost the effect of the opiate, and using topical creams containing antihistamines to knock down the worst itching. The itchies can be intensified by the inert and non-psychoactive ingredients of cough syrups coming out of one's pores and being deposited on the skin, so having a shower if you are not too blasted to walk a straight line can be a good idea in the middle of a long hydrocodone run. Codeine is for most people the itchiest narcotic.

2. Constipation is best dealt with by having tomatoes, tomato juice, or Metamucil before the opiate session and taking a tablet of senna 90 or more minutes before ingesting the opiates. [Eating fruit regularly is also a great help.] Keeping hydrated by drinking lots of water and fluids with electrolytes, especially on hydrocodone, also helps the problem from getting as bad as it could. Particularly with hydro, the user should either avoid acidic materials before the opiate session or consume a solution of sodium bicarbonate to send their system pH back up before consuming the opiates. Many people experience an initial bout of diarrhoea on codeine, although they and others almost invariably wind up dealing with constipation even worse than oxycodone in the end.

3. Nausea is best counteracted with a combination of a carbonated beverage such as 7up or Alka Seltzer, the long-acting anti-nauseant meclizine and a shorter-acting drug such as diphenhydramine or promethazine etc. If you somehow come upon the anti-nauseant Compazine you would do well to flush it down the toilet because it has about half a dozen different ways to kill you.

4. The hangover from a combined opiate and anticholinergic session is almost completely the result of the anticholinergics and is best chased away with nicotine, either a low dose for non-smokers or some chain-smoking for smokers, and its effectiveness ranges from moderate for dimenhydrinate to virtually complete for the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine, the normal dose of which is equivalent to the anticholinergic effect of 70 mg of diphenhydramine. The usual dental precautions for anticholinergics such as using ice chips or artificial saliva for cotton mouth and avoiding acidic beverages until a fair amount of saliva is back in the mouth apply.

promethazine/Phenergan has worked the best for me and you can get it cheep also helps opiate potentiation others restavit (doxylamine succinate) Benadryl/Diphenhydramine Xergic,Fenofexadine-Allegra-Zyrtec Claritin-Cetirizine-Zyrtec.

valoid,used to be important ingredient in the famous diconal,to stop itch nausea etc,and it has the grapefruit juice effect too! it'll hit you harder and last longer.

God Bless!