What Causes Feeling Of Bugs Crawling All Over Me?

Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2015

Question: Why do I feel like bugs are crawling all over me?

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please tell a few details:

Detailed Answer:
Hi Dg XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have asked you a few details in order to answer this query well-
1)Since when you are having these complaints?
2)Why you are taking Gabapentin and Neurontin for so long?Why lisinopril and aspirin?In other words,I want to know your past medical history?
3)Are these complaints episodic or persistent?If episodic,what is the frequency of episodes?When do these symptoms usually occur-day or night?Awake or when you are slept?
4)Does the bugs crawl on hands and feet only or whole body(including trunk)?
5)Are you a Diabetic?Chronic Depression or anxiety?Thyroid abnormalities?History of alcohol intake?

Waiting for your follow-up with details.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (8 hours later)

Dr. Panwar, Thank you for answering. I've had these crawly feelings for more than a few months. Because of my brain surgery, for two aneurysms, my doctor told me I would always be on gabapentin and neurontin for life. I have nerve damage. The aspirin is to avoid blood clots. The lisinoprol is for high blood pressure. I have also had two back surgeries. Feelings are persistent and are whole body. I don't drink, don't know about thyroid, but am depressed and stressed. Hope this helps.
Thank you, XXXXX XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Probably psychosomatic.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up and providing further details.

After going through your detailed medical history,my interpretation of your symptoms is that these crawy feelings over the whole body are not a result of any organic cause.Rather,they appear to be psychosomatic(due to psychogenic cause like anxiety or depression).If it would have been organic,the pattern would have been different(in organic causes, such feelings are more prominent in extremities and not over the whole body).

I suggest you to be on a trial of amitriptyline drug and observe for the response.Please discuss with your treating doctor regarding this.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar