Oxycodone and Itching: What Users Say

• Wis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 4, 2016

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "I have to laugh when I read some of these comments. Why do I itch? Because you are taking too much! Listen, I take 7 pills a day of oxycodone 80 mg and 15 pills a day of Roxicodone 30 mg because a doctor years ago decided it would be the best thing for me, and it was the worst thing he ever did to me. I take over 210 80s a month and 450 30s, that's 660 pills a month - yes, one month! I would tell anyone, do not take these meds. I am so addicted to these now, and now with Obama and the DEA against them, doctors are being told to take people off them. Well, that's great, now I deal with the withdrawal and it's terrible. Please, please, please, if you really need the meds, take them with caution, they become so addictive, it doesn't matter who you are."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2012

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "I have chronic pain in my lower back, and this medication enables me to get out of bed each day and keep working. That said, I don't get the full 12 hours of sustained release. For me, it's more like 9-10 hours of relief before I feel it progressively wearing off (and supplement with a small dose of IR Oxycodone). Side effects? Finding the right dosage was tricky. Too little and I was in pain, but too much and I could barely keep my eyes open to function. I was fatigued the whole time and itchy all over. I've now found a stable balance between pain relief and side effects that is workable with the rest of my life. Overall, it's been a miracle medicine for me to relieve debilitating pain. I'm still in my 30s and am too young to be feeling 80 every day."

• Ter...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 24, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Using oxycodone 10/350 from Walgreens, manufacturer Mallinckrodt, was ok in April. Went to NJ, used another drugstore, came back in July to Walgreens, same manufacturer, but the drug has changed. It does not relieve pain anymore and causes me to itch all over. What did they add and remove from this drug? Believe me, I'm not the only one complaining."

• pkk...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Have been taking oxycodone IR 15 mg for almost 3 years now, one tablet every four hours for chronic pain. It helps for my back pain. If it were not for this medication, I would not be able to work. I have had very few side effects...mainly slight itching. It has helped me so much."

• Dou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2020

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "Dr. changed my Percocet to Xtampza ER after I refused non-effective injections. My dose I'm taking is 18 mg times a day. I have had severe migraines, dizziness, nausea, sharp pains in my side, itching real bad. Worst medication ever. Even took Benadryl and Allegra, doesn't help. Changed to 1 time a day, still the same. Dr. called in lower dosage but ignores the side effects."

• chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2017

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "Did not notice any relief in pain. I did develop welts on my face, hot eyeballs, itching like crazy, nauseated most of the time. I also felt as though I constantly had the flu. I would like to go back on Norco 10/325 x 6/day or oxycodone 15 mg / 6 day. Oh - severe constipation. Really disappointed!!"

• Mim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2019

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "Been only taking Xtampza ER for less than a week and am happy so far. 2X 18.5mg a day. Little itching, which is slowly stopping. Works well and has taken the down deep pain, so I now have my life back. Been in pain for twenty years, been there and done that, and can say this medication WORKS."

• Rel...
• September 18, 2018

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "I've been a chronic pain patient for 5 years now. The doctor said to try OxyContin. It would last longer. Tried it for a week. Bad choice for me as my pain in the morning was a 10, but after trying this pill, pain dropped to a 7, which is not terrible, but it's not good. Pills were supposed to last 12 hours, nope. Bedtime took the pill, and it helped me sleep. But I would wake up five times a night scratching myself. I think OxyContin is a bad choice. The oxycodone fast-acting pills work better because they work super fast. OxyContin is not what was advertised. I expected more out of this medication. I need fast-acting meds, period. I would say give OxyContin a chance, it may work for you, but don't get your hopes up like I did. On top of that, most won't cover it because of the government. The government is pushing back and does not want anybody on these powerful medications, and I can't afford to pay out of pocket at $3,000 per 100 pills. That just can't happen, and that is just way too much money, especially if on Medicaid or Medicare that are disabled."

• mzi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 20, 2014

For Chronic Pain "This rating is for the oxycodone medication (30 mgs) I have been receiving since Jan 2014. Prior to that, the rating would have at least been an 8! I've tried 3 different manufacturers since Jan. without any good or decent results! One was not only ineffective but also made me itch like crazy! What has happened to the formula? Will it ever be back to the way it's been for the last 6 years? This medication made a huge difference in my quality of life! Diagnosed with a spinal cord disease (TM) in Dec of 2000, I experience severe and chronic back pain, and after a few years of trying different medications, we (Dr. and I) found oxycodone 30 mgs, and during the past 6 years, I take that 4-5 times a day if needed and break one in half for the breakthrough."

• Duk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 10, 2015

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "Really helps get rid of my pain. Allows me to function comfortably; since it makes me almost completely pain-free, I sleep like a teenager. Prior to using this med, I used to wake up hourly because of pain. My only bad effect is that I get itchy every once in a while."

• Moo...
• June 18, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I'm 62. I've been on meds for years, which worked well; felt no need to abuse it. Now I see a change in quality, dosage, strength, and side effects. Add to that the difference in different drug companies and brands is another problem (you never know what you're getting at your local pharmacy anymore); you get a hodgepodge of declining product. My own reviews are that I could manage my pain better with a regular non-ER pill. ER causes me sleepless nights, whereas I never had that problem before, so I try to cut out my evening pill. Doubling the dosage for some recently sprained purple toes was worse than a break to me, as it caused me to throw up repeatedly; never again. Please hear me out. I don't advocate this for everyone, but every now and then, I dissolve half an ordinary pill with Pepsi within my regular dosage. Works fast and keeps queasiness at bay. Also, try not to scratch that itch (bad side effect), especially while trying to sleep. Keep a bottle of Curel handy. Gawwd, I do. Adjust if you must. You know your body. Let's be safe out there. Have a great day/week. One man's opinion."

• gem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2016

Oxycodone for Chronic Pain "Itchy, itchy! I've found opioid analgesics are the best for my chronic pain. Roxicodone caused pruritus for me. That might not seem like a big deal. However, when dealing with pain that's been constant for years, a side effect like nonstop itching is one more thing that magnifies the pain. Then there's pain, itching, and more loss of sleep. There were a couple of remedies: the doctor prescribing a different medicine or taking an antihistamine to overcome the itching. In today's current anti-opioid environment, doctors seem more likely to throw up their hands and say, 'Well, I guess you're just not a good candidate for opioids!' Which just isn't true. Switching worked like a charm for me."

• OPs...
• January 2, 2011

Oxycodone for Pain "I have a major complaint about the changing of the OC's to the OP's. I have been taking the 80 mg OC's for the last 2 years for my neuropathy from my diabetes, and it seems to have been the only thing that works for the pains that I have. Now, after the change of them to the OP's, I have been taking them now for today being the third day, and they don't do much for my pain. On top of that, they make my whole body itch very badly, and today, discovering that I'm now passing blood in my urine. Have never done that in my life of 48 years. So what do I do now? I understand why the changes were made with the formulation, but what about the people who use it the right way and who really need it? We are the ones who are suffering because of people who abuse it."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2011

Oxycodone for Pain "My doctor put me on OxyContin. About 4 months ago, we started at 10 mg twice a day with 4 x 5/325 Percocets. We are at 30 mg twice a day and 4 x 10/325 Percocets a day now. I have fibromyalgia, IBS, myofascial pain, and a herniated disc in my neck. This dosage has given me a lot of relief, but I would love to be able to go to dinner or something with my husband, so I think a little more work is needed. I do have one problem, it makes me itch like crazy."

• Miz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2016

For Chronic Pain "On June 7, 2016, my pain management doctor put me on 5 mg oxycodone, twice a day, with 15 mg of MS Contin at bedtime. So far, the oxy seems to be helping me with my chronic back pain, but it does not last long. When I see him again in 4 weeks, I am going to ask for a higher dose or to take a couple more per day. I'm a newbie at the clinic where he is now, and I think he is just trying to see what works and what doesn't since I haven't seen him in about 3 years. The downfalls for this med are I sometimes get itchy and the risk of addiction."

• 66t...
• December 10, 2009

Oxycodone for Pain "I have been on OxyContin 40 mg for 2 months. It does not relieve my pain 100%, but has given me some relief. I see a pain doctor. He started me on Suboxone so that I would not get addicted to it. The worst side effect that I have noticed is the itching, and nothing works. My doctor decreased me from taking the OxyContin 40 mg three times a day to twice a day, but he has put me on Dilaudid 4 mg every 8 hours as needed for pain. My pain had decreased when I was taking the 40 mg 3 times a day. When I was taking it twice a day, when the weather would change, I would be in so much pain that I would have to go get an injection of Demerol 100 mg and Phenergan 50 mg. I was in a car accident over 8 years ago and had several injuries, but I still suffer from brachial plexus."

• tif...
• August 15, 2009

For Pain "The only problem I have with this pain medicine is the itching I get from it. I had neck fusion surgery in November and lumbar fusion on January 13 and emergency back surgery 2 weeks later. This is the only pain medicine that has ever really helped control my pain."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2011

"Since taking this medicine, I have been able to get out of my wheelchair. Although in the beginning, the side effects were a little hard to get used to, it has greatly increased the quality of my life. I do, however, wish that it was more readily available to my pharmacy, as there are times that I worry whether or not I will be able to get it and never knowing which brand I will get. Each generic brand comes with its own set of side effects, from headaches to itchy skin to nausea. They need to be more consistent with the inert ingredients to avoid this problem."

• San...
• May 9, 2011

For Pain "LIKES: It works on post-surgical pain. While it makes me a bit tired, I can still function and work. It does not make me nauseous. DISLIKES: It makes me so itchy I cannot function and need to take a 25 mg hydroxyzine with each 10 mg tablet. The histamine release is so aggravating that wearing clothes is just short of torture, and every pore feels like it has a live nerve in it. My bowels have stopped completely. The cons outweigh the pros on this one for me. I have read a lot on how addicting this is, and I cannot understand why - while it certainly did work on the pain, it made me feel miserable."

• Rob...
• August 5, 2008

"I have a bad back and find that this medication is very helpful when it comes to pain. Oxycodone is the only one that works for the pain. It can cause itching, but the pain-free part makes it worth it."

• ALM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2013

For Pain "Best pain medication I've ever taken. It makes me tired, though, and it also makes me very itchy."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Worked initially but then developed pruritus. The itching was unbearable. Tried taking it with Benadryl, but I had to take such a massive amount of Benadryl in order not to itch horribly."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

For Pain "Itching near the head and constipation."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2023

Oxycodone for Pain "After taking one 5 mg tablet, I had horrible itching for hours."

• Gem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Worked initially, then made me itch like mad! The combination of pain and itching was too much for me to handle!"