OxyContin and Itching: What Users Say

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

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."

• Rel...
• September 18, 2018

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."

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

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."

• OPs...
• January 2, 2011

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

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."

• 66t...
• December 10, 2009

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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2012

For Chronic Pain "Minimal relief with itching."