This crazy itch!

[Cre8_it]

Ok,  I've had a serious itch on my left foot for over 2 years to the point where I'd make it bleed, the meds I'm on were helping some.  Suddenly 2.5 months ago it completely stopped!  I was so happy......but about 1.5 months ago, my head started to itch!  Of coarse I was scratching so much that I was practically taking off my scalp! LOL  Then I thought that maybe I had dandruff so I started using dandruff shampoo.  Now it's my head, back, and arms!  I'm wearing my softest clothes, and in bed, and I can't sleep because of this itch!!  I know it sounds hilarious, especially when we have pain etc.  But it's driving me crazy!  Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Cre8_it]

Yes it was Carbamazepine (Tegretol) he he he.  It's been a long time since I've taken them. I'm only taking the gabapentin now because of side effects.  But these are making me so loopy that I don't know what to do.  I do still suffer with stabbing pains, some numbness etc. on the 300mg per day because I'm not taking enough, but then I can't drive because of the loopiness! LOL  Tegretol was bad for me.  I'm wondering if I get pregabalin or something instead it might be better.  

Thanks again for your input!

[COBOB]

I'd try a higher dose of gabapentin before I'd switch to Lyrica.  I'm guessing you meant Carbamazepine (Tegretol) when you said carmabenzeprine.  What dose are you taking of the
Carbamazepine?  I take 200mg three times a day.  The only time I notice any itching now is after my Copaxone shot.  In that case, I think it is a "real" itch.  I seems different from the "phantom itch" I used to get.

Bob

[Cre8_it]

Thanks for your reply!  I have 4 lesions in my brain.  I am on a 300mg dose of gabapentin per day for 2.5 yrs now.  I know that is a low dose and I need more, but they make me so loopy that I'm really dreading it!  I have been on combinations of amytriptiline, gabapentin, nortriptiline and carmabenzeprine they all make me feel that way!  I can't see my dr until april 19th, any suggestions on what I should ask for with regards to my needing more meds and the way that they make me feel?  I've been hearing about lyrica and some others....I really need to get off the gabapentin but need more relief as well!

Thanks!

[COBOB]

It is a symptom.  I try to convince myself that there is nothing there and that scratching doesn't help.  I was put on Tegretol for Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN.)  The nice side effect was most of the itching stopped.  

Bob

[crwriter]

Ahh - can that explain why I cannot satisfy the itches when my head itches?  Is this something I should worry about?

[COBOB]

You have to talk with your neurologist.  The fact that it has moved around the body makes me think it might be more of a brain or high cervical issue.  The top and back of the head are innervated by spinal nerves that exit at C2  on the spine.  Itching is one of those strange paraesthesias that many PwMS experience.  I guess it is more accurately a dysesthesia since an Itch is defined as a "unpleasant sensation."  It uses some same pathways as pain receptors, and both types of signals are processed by the thalamus.

Neurologic "itch" can respond to the same GABA and anit-seizure drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of other paraesthesias.

Bob

[crwriter]

Ahhh - I have the itch syndrome.  I have come to believe it is from my fingernails not being able to satisfy the itch because my feeling has lessened.  If I scratch harder, I know I will scratch myself up, so I try to ignore it.  Very hard to do.  I sometimes laugh and say to myself - I cannot even scratch my itches now!