Why do painkillers make you itch so bad?

Could be the effect they have on the underlying nerves in the skin. Relaxes them to a lesser extent perhaps and causes it to feel as if they are sensing something they are not, thus the itch. I noticed the same thing when I was on them for having surgery about a year ago, its fucking annoying.

Or could be allergies. see your doctor.

Vicodin is a great drug for most people.

I had a similar experience after surgery. As I recall I was instructed to take some benadryl and the itching stopped right away.

Check with your doctor, WebMD, or a medical professional, because it was a few years ago and I am just guessing that it was benadryl that I was told to take.

In any case, I think what you are describing is fairly common and the remedy is pretty common too.



ADG Webmaster

Damn that suck have them switch you to something else

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.

http://opioids.com/opiates/

take Benadryl

I'm allergic to codeine and morphine...it's very common to be allergic to painkillers. Benadryl will help but probably won't kill the itch/rash. The good thing is, between the vicodin and the antihistamine you'll be flat on your ass all weekend....nothing bothers you much when you're unconscious

maybe it's just an allergic reaction of your body to the substance found on that pain killer.