? about meds I am taking.

[stupiddogz]

I am taking a few different meds for a permenant back injury i sustained when I fell down some stairs in 2004. This is what I'm taking (disc herniations, bulge w/deterioration, sciatica):

zetia 10 mg 1/day
lovaza 4/day
tramadol 50 mg 2 pills 3/4 times per day
baclofen 10 msg 3/day
xanax .5 prn (not to exceed 4 per day)

This is my question: a few years back, I used to take hydrocodones for my pain, and sometimes I would get this insane itching all over my body because of it, crazy itching. Now I've been off it for almost 3 yrs and sometimes i get this same itching, but what drug could be causing it? The tramadol? A Dr. once told me even though tramadol is concidered non narcotic, it still is technically a narcotic drug, just a very low dose. I usually just need 3 doses of them per day, but when the pain is really bad, I will take the full 4 doses. Is this normal? Thanks!

[Red931]

It is common for people to experience some itching when they first start taking opiate medication, but is usually subsides.

Tramadol will usually cause a blistering type rash with itching which you do not describe. Zetia, Baclofen, and Xanax are not known to cause itching at all, but the Xanax can cause problems with memory which you do describe.

You may also be having a reaction to all the medications mixed together.

As I mentioned twice in my earlier post and Tuck also mentioned, you need to speak with your doctor about this and do not let him or her intimidate you into taking something that may be causing these side effects. Process of elimination may very well what your doctor comes up with as a solution, but he or she is going to ask you what medication did you start taking when this reaction occurred. You can check the dates on your prescription bottles if you can't remember and the one that you started most recently is likely the culprit.

[stupiddogz]

thanks for the insight to the lovaza, i had no idea there were so many side effects from fish oil! is it the omega 3 and some other pharmacutical conction, or just a mega dose of fish oil? im allergic to statins, they cause really bad short term memory loss for me, and i need my memory, lol, ive lost enough of my mind and memory due to other drugs and life in general, and im only 33. its bad.

the itching i thought might come from the ultram, since its some kind of narcotic, and i used to get this kind of itching when i was taking opiates before...and not to be too graphic, but the itching is mainly my nipples, they itch really bad, and my torso too, no where else really. but my colestral (sp) leels are finally manageable, the dr said its a tad high still, but hes ok with it compaired to before, it was close to 300 and the ratios are better now, so that seems to be working ok.

ome more ? about the meds i take. since ive been taking them, ive had NO appetite what so ever. im luchy if i eat a piece of cheese, or some chips, or something small every day, since i have no desire to eat at all, its like being on opiates in that aspect. ive heard the lovaza & ultram can caule appetite supression, i was thinking ihad some kind of IBS or something, had 2 colonoscopys and they didnt find much, but never though to look at the meds as a cause of the low appetite. i used to LOVE food, and its all i can do to eat one thing every day, and usually like one sandwich fills me up fast, and i feel full for like up to 8 hrs after eating, its the strangest thing. i dont mind the loosing weight part, can only be good for my back pain issues, and my self esteem and body issues (lost about 100lbs since i had my son 3 yrs ago) so in that respect im feeling pretty good. i hate all these side effects though! sometimes seems worse than the actual positive of the pills we take! frustrating!!!

thanks again for the answers, i will keep this in mind. youve all been so kind and helpful! :)

[Tuckamore]

Hello and Welcome to the Pain Management Forum.

Lovaza is a prescription medication made from omega-3 fish oil. Your itching could be related to the Lovaza but I have observed others that have taken this drug and not had that side effect, including my mother. Every one's system is different and reacts differently to different medications. I can list the drugs that make me itch but they may not effect you in that manner.

The only true way to determine what is causing the itching is my elimination. Meaning (with your physicians monitoring and approval) you quit taking one drug for a week or two and see if the itching ceases. If not you begin that taking that drug again and go to the next one and do the same and so on until the culprit is discovered. If the Lovaza is the most obvious than your physician will most likely begin with that medication.

Please discuss this with your physician. If it is a true allergic reaction you will want to find the source quickly and stop the medication before more serious side effects develop. Any medication can react in this manner. I have a list of 14 that cause (among other side effects) itching. Red may very well be correct, it could be the Lovaza but have this confirmed before you take any action.

Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing.

Take Care,
Tuck

[Red931]

That would be (buy over the counter) not (by). I wish we had an (edit) button here. Oh Sandee? LOL

[Red931]

I guarantee it is the Lovaza that is causing the problem. I was taking it for 30 days and experienced this side effect and then some. You should have your doctor check you liver enzymes as Lovaza tends to raise them. Think back to when you started on the Lovaza and when the itching started.

Lovaza is very expensive and doesn't work any better than any decent fish oil product you can by over the counter to lower Triglycerides. Talk to your doctor about it, but I am sure that Lovaza is causing your problem.

Lovaza
SIDE EFFECTS
Body as a Whole: Enlarged abdomen, asthenia, body odor, chest pain, chills, suicide, fever, generalized edema, fungal infection, malaise, neck pain, neoplasm, rheumatoid arthritis, and sudden death.
Cardiovascular System: Arrhythmia, bypass surgery, cardiac arrest, hyperlipemia, hypertension, migraine, myocardial infarct, myocardial ischemia, occlusion, peripheral vascular disorder, syncope, and tachycardia.
Digestive System: Anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, dysphagia, colitis, fecal incontinence, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal disorder, increased appetite, intestinal obstruction, melena, pancreatitis, tenesmus, and vomiting.
Hematologic-Lymphatic System: Lymphadenopathy.
Infections and Infestations: Viral infection.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: Edema, hyperglycemia, increased ALT, and increased AST.
Musculoskeletal System: Arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, pathological fracture, and tendon disorder.
Nervous System: Central nervous system neoplasia, depression, dizziness, emotional lability, facial paralysis, insomnia, vasodilatation, and vertigo.
Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, increased cough, dyspnea, epistaxis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, rhinitis, and sinusitis.
Skin: Alopecia, eczema, pruritus, and sweating.
Special Senses: Cataract.
Urogenital System: Cervix disorder, endometrial carcinoma, epididymitis, and impotence


Hope this helps.