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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
I've done a web search but didn't come up with a good answer for my skin crawling. Any ideas?
Last night (in bed) my skin started to itch -- all over. I kept thinking that the Lamictal rash was setting in...but that wasn't it. It literally felt like bugs were crawling all over me.
I got up, no bugs, no rash, no dry skin, no anything that would cause this except for claw marks from my nails. I just wanted to tear through my skin to make it stop. I've
been through this over and over in my mind. I didn't do anything or eat anything different that would cause this reaction.Med combo hasn't changed:
lamictal
cymbalta
wellbutrin
klonopin
provigil
Posted by rainbowbrite on May 16, 2005, at 11:25:16
In reply to HELP! Skin crawling, posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
I think it is a symptom of stimulating drugs sometimes. I have experienced it, and it is extremely uncomfortable. I just searched it and it appears to be a side effect of antipsychotic drugs as well, Im not sure if any of your drugs are?? I think side effects can come and go, at least I tell myself that when unexplained things happen lol.
i hope it goes aways
Rain
Posted by Slinky on May 16, 2005, at 12:32:42
In reply to HELP! Skin crawling, posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
Hi
I can relate..just had a night of itching...like it's under the skin.
This comes and goes. used to change my soap powder, ponder what I did right or wrong.
Did you take the meds at the excact time as you usually do?
If I'm a little late with my neurontin it's worse.
If it's continual then I would see your doc..sorry I can't help anymore but I do know what you meanSlinky
Posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 13:33:47
In reply to Re: HELP! Skin crawling » Wildflower, posted by Slinky on May 16, 2005, at 12:32:42
Hi Slinky.
I was a bit late with the meds but never had the skin crawling SE. Very scary thing to have happen.
Here's to itch-free nights...
Posted by hawkeye on May 16, 2005, at 19:18:15
In reply to HELP! Skin crawling, posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
Wellbutrin can cause itching:
Scratching the Itch
"I've been itchy for two weeks now (no, I haven't been hanging out with Kelley). I don't mean the itchy feeling you get in the beginning of winter when the air is dry and the heat is on. I mean itchy. Scratching constantly, driving you crazy type itching.
It started about two weeks ago, on the back of my neck, right at my hairline. Then the top side of my hands began to itch constantly. Then my arms, then the legs. I notice a pattern. Hands itch in the morning, arms in the afternoon, legs at night, with various other parts of my body joining in during the course of the day.
I changed shampoos and soap. I tried a different laundry detergent. I used ten different lotions and creams. Nothing changed. Still, the itch.
Last night I scratched so much that I broke out in hives on my arms and drew blood on my legs. Then it started on my face and some other parts of my body which you cannot scratch in public.
And then my husband said, gee, when did you start taking the Wellbutrin? Hmmm...two weeks ago, why? Oh......
So I did a quick Google on side effects for Wellbutrin. Here's what I found:
Call your doctor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience rash, itching, or hives.
I found that on every site I went to (you have to dig really deep on Google for these things; it seems the first fifty results for any kind of prescription drug query brings up discount drug stores. One result actually said Need Wellbutrin Side Effects, We Got Them!).
The real sucky part of this is that the Wellbutrin (in addition to the Paxil I've been taking) has really worked. I finally found a good balance of medications that make me feel and function like a normal human being. This is the best I've felt in years and now I'm going to have to give it up because my skin decided to freak out on me. Just my luck.
Now I'm just waiting for 9am to roll around so I can get to the doctor's office. Meanwhile, I'll be sitting here, scratching my skin raw."
Posted by Wildflower on May 17, 2005, at 13:03:32
In reply to Re: HELP! Skin crawling, posted by hawkeye on May 16, 2005, at 19:18:15
Thanks for the info. This SE is driving me crazy and marking up my skin from clawing at it trying to make it stop.
I'll keep you posted.
Posted by KayeBaby on May 18, 2005, at 11:09:07
In reply to Re: I left a message for my doctor » hawkeye, posted by Wildflower on May 17, 2005, at 13:03:32
When i took Lamictal I had a night where I really thoucht I had a mosquito biting me all night or a flea. I did not attribute it to the med I REALLY thought it was a bug.
I have had itching with effexor and ritalin but nothing quite like the lamictal. I did later develop the rash. I got the common sunburn type flushing as well as the beginnings of the dreaded rash which looks different. It looks like a dusky hive with a bite or pimple.
Hope you are just getting a mild side effect since your regime is working well.
Lamictal also made me hypomanic which was novel.
Good Luck!
Kaye
Posted by flipsactown on May 19, 2005, at 23:17:26
In reply to HELP! Skin crawling, posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
Hello,
It sounds like a withdrawal symptom of some kind. That skin crawling happened to me twice, once when I was tapering off Effexor and even worse when I was tapering off Oxycontin.
Sorry, I am not of much help, but I know what you are talking about. Another way to describe it is like having ants in your pants. You just want to keep shaking them off and you can't seem to sit or lie still. It is a horrible feeling.
Good luck.
FST
> I've done a web search but didn't come up with a good answer for my skin crawling. Any ideas?
>
> Last night (in bed) my skin started to itch -- all over. I kept thinking that the Lamictal rash was setting in...but that wasn't it. It literally felt like bugs were crawling all over me.
>
> I got up, no bugs, no rash, no dry skin, no anything that would cause this except for claw marks from my nails. I just wanted to tear through my skin to make it stop. I've
> been through this over and over in my mind. I didn't do anything or eat anything different that would cause this reaction.
>
> Med combo hasn't changed:
> lamictal
> cymbalta
> wellbutrin
> klonopin
> provigil
Posted by SLS on May 20, 2005, at 7:06:57
In reply to Re: HELP! Skin crawling, posted by hawkeye on May 16, 2005, at 19:18:15
> Wellbutrin can cause itching:
So can *decreasing* the dosage of Lamictal too rapidly. It is a rash reaction that carries some risk to be as dangerous as that which one might experience while increasing the dosage. Such rashes usually begin in regions located at and above the neck. This reaction is probably pretty rare, though.
- Scott
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 20, 2005, at 14:57:42
In reply to HELP! Skin crawling, posted by Wildflower on May 16, 2005, at 10:19:36
> I've done a web search but didn't come up with a good answer for my skin crawling. Any ideas?
>
> Last night (in bed) my skin started to itch -- all over. I kept thinking that the Lamictal rash was setting in...but that wasn't it. It literally felt like bugs were crawling all over me...The sensation you're describing is called formication. And here's another possibility to consider: Are you by any chance menopausal or perimenopausal? Hormone changes can cause this sensation in about 10% of menopausal women. Also, have you had a recent (and especially quick) change in your weight, up or down? This can mess with your hormones, too. (I gained a lot of weight pretty fast on Depakote and though it was never diagnosed, I think I had PCOS or Metabolic Syndrome. I certainly started having a lot of problems with my periods.)
This is the end of the thread.
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