Re: Doc says no to spasm medication

[Guest guest]

I have taken nortriptyline for many years (25), with no side effects to eliminate my spasms. It is an anti-depressant. I take a small dose daily. Several Dr's have told me it controls spasms by affecting the tips of the nerves that are reacting to the irregular impulses of the "e". I have quit taking nortriptyline a few times and the spasms come back. A number of people have spoke out against this treatment for spasms. It has worked tremendously for me.

You can read about the drug at http://www.drugs.com/nortriptyline.html.

Since I am taking a small dose it took about a week for the spasms to go away.

In a message dated 2/16/2008 8:07:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, kristinmari2@... writes:

I had my HM in April 2007. I had NEVER had a spasm before the surgery. Now, I get at least one severe spasm about once a month. This month, I've had about 4 already.When I call my doctor's office, the nurse practitioner says he doesn't like to prescribe spasm medication because it normally gives the person the worst headache of their life lasting about a day. She was speaking of nitro.Question.I see many of you on nifedipine for the spasms. Why is my doctor so reluctant to give anything? Anyone else have a doctor's office refuse spasm meds.Should I call and ask to speak to him directly instead of a third party?, FL

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm the mother of the other achalasian who was unable to get a

prescription for Niphedipine. Dr. Rice would NOT prescribe it for

my son, who is 14. Just like you, NEVER experienced

spasms until aftert his surgery. We actually had to call 911 twice

because I did not know what was going on.

When we went for the 8 week check-up, I told Dr. Kaplan (ped GI)about

the spasms and she wrote the RX - no problem. While we were w/Dr.

Rice, Dr. Kaplan's office called to say " DO NOT FILL THE SCRIPT

because we now think it will do more harm than good... " It was

bizarre. I'm convinced that Rice found out that Kaplan prescribed it,

and he hit the roof. When I asked Dr. Rice about it, his response was

" , the spasm will not kill you, and you need to find out what

triggers it. " He was adament about it. He said studies have shown it

to be more detrimental, and told me that the Niphedipine was for ME,

not ! Although, I love Dr. Rice, I was not a happy mama!

Apparently, he's never seen his child on the floor screaming in pain

" god, please help me " !!! My local hospital would NOT give Niphedipine

to either. They ER docs looked at me like I had 2 heads. I

had them call The Cleveland Clinic (thank you, Tonia!) and they would

NOT authorize it. They had no problem giving him Percocet though! I

couldn't get anywhere with anyone - even when I've told them

has taken Niphephine before with absolutely no side effects (previous

GI prescribed it)to help with swallowing before his surgery - I still

got a " NO! "

Interestingly enough.... has had a couple small spasms since

our visit, and he has worked through them. Hmmm... So, what does this

mean? Maybe in my son's case, his anxiety was playing a huge part,

and by having Dr. Rice say " it won't kill you " made a difference in

his thinking because he heard it from his surgeon. Who knows?

By the way, I'm still getting the Niphedipine script filled Just in

case....and yes, it might be for both AND me!

Vicki

>

> I had my HM in April 2007. I had NEVER had a spasm before the

> surgery. Now, I get at least one severe spasm about once a month.

> This month, I've had about 4 already.

> When I call my doctor's office, the nurse practitioner says he doesn't

> like to prescribe spasm medication because it normally gives the

> person the worst headache of their life lasting about a day. She was

> speaking of nitro.

>

> Question.

> I see many of you on nifedipine for the spasms. Why is my doctor so

> reluctant to give anything? Anyone else have a doctor's office refuse

> spasm meds.

>

> Should I call and ask to speak to him directly instead of a third

> party?

>

> , FL

>

[Guest guest]

I have had Achalasia since I was 17. I have been to the ER so many

times thinking I was having a heart attack. I even had to put a note

in my personnel record at work to say if I had chest pains it was not

a heart attack. UGH Usually the ER gave me a " GI cocktail " which was

malox, valium, and some sort of liquid pain reliever.

I was prescribed all kinds of things for spasms. None of them worked!

Not even Niphedipine. So Dr. Rice may be right, but the truth is,

there has got to be help somewhere. I never knew what caused my

spasms. I know things like water, ginger tea and peppermint tea

helped. Sorry I can not give you better news.

Blessings,

Jeanne

++++++++++++++++++++++

www.healingcommunities.org

www.castillofuerteconsulting.com

> >

> > I had my HM in April 2007. I had NEVER had a spasm before the

> > surgery. Now, I get at least one severe spasm about once a month.

> > This month, I've had about 4 already.

> > When I call my doctor's office, the nurse practitioner says he

doesn't

> > like to prescribe spasm medication because it normally gives the

> > person the worst headache of their life lasting about a day. She was

> > speaking of nitro.

> >

> > Question.

> > I see many of you on nifedipine for the spasms. Why is my doctor so

> > reluctant to give anything? Anyone else have a doctor's office

refuse

> > spasm meds.

> >

> > Should I call and ask to speak to him directly instead of a third

> > party?

> >

> > , FL

> >

>