Dopamine and Itching?

[Anonymous]

i’m probably making a huge mental leap, but anyway- it’s in my nature to do that.

i had a huge problem with itching/crawling skin sensations for several years (antihistamines didn’t nuke it, prednisone only took the edge off), that doctors put down to histamine related ‘stuff’ (i have allergies) -which i’d totally forgotten about until yesterday, cos it just magically went away a year or so ago. it came back yesterday, and is worse today. currently i’m resisting the urge to stick a cottonbud in my earhole and rub sandpaper on my arms. [edit: yeah, erm… resisting= fail]

i’ve wracked my brain, and the only thing thats different recently is that i stopped taking wellbutrin yesterday (i’d been taking it for a year or two- along with effexor, for depression) cos it makes me perspire and the psychiatrist has decided that we could give concerta a go instead (it works more for ADHD, less for depression, he said).

i’ve googled ‘itching dopamine’ and apparently there is a school of thought that a dopamine imbalance causes the itching in restless legs syndrome, and dopamine is linked to ADHD, depression, etc…. could stopping the wellbutrin be making me itchy? is it likely to go away once i fill my prescription for concerta? am i a crazed itchy freak with low dopamine levels or something?

*scratches desperately*

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[Anonymous]

http://totallyadd.com/forum/topic.php?id=1231

There is a condition called formication (not to be confused with the more exotic activity- fornication) which is a wormy like sensation under the skin often seen in the withdrawal effects from dopamine-based drugs like cocaine.

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[shutterbug55]

So… does it go away when we are on meds, or is it unaffected by meds?

I don’t get the “wormy” feelings.. I get the feeling I just stepped on an ant hill and they are crawling all over me.

Great post, Janet!!!

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