Does Percocet make someone itch?

Nurses Medications

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I'm still a newer nurse, but the nurse that told me this is also a newer nurse so just wondering if itching is a common side effect of Percocet. I had a patient the other night that was itching everywhere. She'd been on Percocet for a week and had just started itching. The outgoing nurse told her it was probably the Percocet making her itch and suggested she not take it (and take some Motrin instead) or take one pill instead of two. She said to me "you know how if you've been on Percocet for a while it can make you itch" and my thoughts were "um, no, never heard of that", but kept that thought to myself. I wasn't as sure that jumping to Percocet being the problem was the right call, but I called the doc and asked for an order for motrin and benadryl and he agreed for now we could hold off on the Percocet. He also asked about lab work for kidney function which this person has no labs. By morning the patient did say the itching had improved, but was still there. She by then hadn't had Percocent in a good 14 hours. So my questions here are 1) is itching a side effect that you've seen with Percocet? I looked it up in my drug handbook and didn't see it as a common side effect. Also? If Percocet was causing the itching would you still be itching in the morning if you stopped taking it at 1pm? Thoughts? How do you determine what meds to look at when a patient starts itching? This was the only "new" med according to the patient, but she'd been taking for a week already. And would you be looking at something else besides meds for causing the itching? Any feedback would be appreciated.

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Usually if your going to start itching from an allergy it'll show up quicker like as soon as you take it.... I'm not sure what the itchiness would be....

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Am RN with 40 years nsg and something I learned a realllly long time ago about nsg & healthcare - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!

Everything you described is a real possibility re perc use Adverse reax can occur as quickly as a first/second 'sensitizing' dose, but reax can also occur after cumulative multiple doses (in one course of therapy or in a repeated course of therapy some time later).

Even after drug discontinuance, the adverse reax can continue for some time until the drug clears via the drug's route of excretion by the body.

And it may be some part of the pill, not just the medicine part (like a dye or stabilizer additive). And side effects/reax can extend to related drug classes.

Anybody can be affected, not just the usual, expected population(see below).

Some years ago, I was taking QUINAM, a quinine drug for leg muscle cramping/spasms (charley horses). First course of tx I was fine. Some months later, I started a second course (1 dose), but got terrible nausea and just felt terrible awful. (I attributed that to something I ate late at a wedding reception.) Some time later, I tried it one more time, and I thought I was DYING. And I do mean DYING!!! Every side effect listed in the PDR, I experienced. QUINAM has since been pulled off the market - as a quinine drug, its SERIOUS side effects have been well documented and black-boxed by the FDA. Even Cpl Klinger on M*A*S*H experienced it before the real US ARMY knew all about it. And I'm NOT of Mediterranean origin - for whom quinine is most negatively reactive. I had very similar reax with CIPRO - a drug with 'quin' in it and which has also been black-boxed.

I used to take real brand name orange Darvocet (a kissin' cousin to percoset). Occ, I would notice a mild itch, nothing terrible. When I switched to generic, I found I could take the generic WHITE pill, but the generic PINK one would make me itch.

So, yes, the perc could be at fault and I would suggest her drug profile be updated to include percoset as an ALLERGY. I include quinam/quinine and cipro on my profile.

As I said, with meds - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Anecdotal evidence - yes. Percocet can make you itch, without having an allergic reaction it. Happens when I took it after my c/section. But not with every dose.

I have also seen in practice many MDs order Benadryl 12.5-25mg prn itching alongside pain meds (Vicodin or Percocet)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Opiates can cause itching relieved by antihistamine . Any opiate--oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, hydrocodone can cause itching it's a common side effect. Many providers standing order Benadryl or Allegra for itching as long as no signs of anaphylaxis.

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Anecdotal evidence - yes. Percocet can make you itch, without having an allergic reaction it. Happens when I took it after my c/section. But not with every dose.

I have also seen in practice many MDs order Benadryl 12.5-25mg prn itching alongside pain meds (Vicodin or Percocet)

Opiates can cause itching relieved by antihistamine . Any opiate--oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, hydrocodone can cause itching it's a common side effect. Many providers standing order Benadryl or Allegra for itching as long as no signs of anaphylaxis.

This is what I was thinking. I didn't think Motrin was going to cover this lady's pain. By telling her this the patient wanted me to list it as an allergy and not give her any more. I thought trying the benadryl first without holding the percocet might have been a good option. Thanks for your feedback. Going to add this to my nursing knowledge.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Itching is a well known side-effect of opiate therapy.... Since vascular reactions to histamine are of peripheral origin, whereas alloknesis depends on central nervous mechanisms, our findings suggest a pronounced centrally mediated action of naltrexone on histamine induced pruritus.

Opiate and H1 antagonist effects on histamine induced pruritus and alloknesis. - PubMed - NCBI

By itself, itching with opiates does not suggest an anaphylactic allergic reaction.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Yes very common Side-effect.Often after an IV dose patients will especially report itching of of the nose and face.Its not a reason to stop it you just add an antihistamine.It also may not happen with every dose.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Anecdotal evidence - yes. Percocet can make you itch, without having an allergic reaction it. Happens when I took it after my c/section. But not with every dose.

Yes, as a nurse who has worked with women post-cesarean, narcotics often made them itch, particularly their noses. I had kind of forgotten about that until reading this thread.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Usually if your going to start itching from an allergy it'll show up quicker like as soon as you take it.... I'm not sure what the itchiness would be....

Itching is a very common side effect to opioid pain medications - all three drug guides I currently use list itching as a side effect of Percocet. BTW there is a difference between a side effect and an allergy.

Hppy

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Itching is a very common side effect to opioid pain medications - all three drug guides I currently use list itching as a side effect of Percocet. BTW there is a difference between a side effect and an allergy.

Hppy

I have Davis drug guide as part of Nursing Central app and it wasn't listed there. Can you recommend your favorite drug handbook.

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Percocet makes me itch, but only very mildly. I would feel it just as the drug hits it's onset time. The itching never really bothered me though, only my face would get itchy and more so my cheeks. I don't know if that helps any.

what I really can't stand though it the itching from fentyl... I would scratch with a fork if I could.

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