Re: Formication

[Anonymous]

Formication (the feeling of bugs crawling under your skin) is a common side effect of cocaine use. I remember when i was a Resident, this guy came in picking at his skin leaving these open wounds over his body but would not admit that he was using cocaine. The ER doc was sure he was using it because the presentation was so critical. Now remember I was in Pittsburgh. The ER doc called me in the wee hours of the morning to look at this guy. So I said to him, ” You know, if you have some cocaine and put it in your shoes, this feeling will go away.” To which he said, “Really, I have some.” whereupon he pulled out a bag of cocaine and began sprinkling it in his shoes. Diagnosis confirmed! Cuff ’em and bag ’em danno (Hawaii 5-O reference). The guy was such a bonehead.

OK, stimulant medications can rarely cause this effect too. I’ve only seen one case. If the stimulants have a positive effect but this side effect wipes out all the positives, then treatment of the formication might be useful.

PS For those of you who thought I was referring to FORNICATION, if you put cocaine in your shoes, happy things will happen to you too.

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