Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I notice one of the meds recommended is gabapentin. Terry has taken that since he had the nerve injuries in his accident. Perhaps that is why he hasn't had major issues with the itching. Hummmmmmmmm...... Hugs.......... Diane Adjunctive therapies Below is an excerpt from one of the eMedicine websites. The itching post from Qoya made me think of posting it. MaC ************ *** Adjunctive therapies Zinc deficiency commonly is observed in patients with cirrhosis. Treatment with zinc sulfate at 220 mg orally twice daily may improve dysgeusia and can stimulate appetite. Furthermore, zinc is effective in the treatment of muscle cramps and is adjunctive therapy for hepatic encephalopathy. Pruritus is a common complaint in both cholestatic liver diseases (eg, primary biliary cirrhosis) and in noncholestatic chronic liver diseases (eg, hepatitis C). Although increased serum bile acid levels once were thought to be the cause of pruritus, endogenous opioids are more likely to be the culprit pruritogens. Mild itching complaints may respond to treatment with antihistamines. Cholestyramine is the mainstay of therapy for the pruritus of liver disease. Care should be taken to avoid coadministration of this organic anion binder with any other medication, to avoid compromising GI absorption. Other medications that may provide relief against pruritus include ursodeoxycholic acid, ammonium lactate 12% skin cream (Lac-Hydrin, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Princeton, NJ), naltrexone (an opioid antagonist), rifampin, gabapentin, and ondansetron. Patients with severe pruritus may require institution of ultraviolet light therapy or plasmapheresis. Some male patients suffer from hypogonadism. Patients with severe symptoms may undergo therapy with topical testosterone preparations, although their safety and efficacy is not well studied. Similarly, the utility and safety of growth hormone therapy remains unclear. Patients with cirrhosis may develop osteoporosis. Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D is important in patients at high risk for osteoporosis, especially patients with chronic cholestasis, patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, and patients receiving corticosteroids for autoimmune hepatitis. The discovery of decreased bone mineralization upon bone densitometry studies also may prompt institution of therapy with an aminobisphosphonate (eg, alendronate sodium). Regular exercise, including walking and even swimming, should be encouraged in patients with cirrhosis, lest the patient slip into a vicious cycle of inactivity and muscle wasting. Debilitated patients frequently benefit from formal exercise programs supervised by a physical therapist. Patients with chronic liver disease should receive vaccination to protect them against hepatitis A. Other protective measures include vaccination against hepatitis B, pneumococci, and influenza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Has he had any weight gain problems since he has been taking gabapentin? It caused me to stop losing weight and actually gain weight when I was taking it. Know of others who have had the same problem. Jan H On Sat, Nov 1, 2008 at 3:39 PM, diane chandler wrote: > I notice one of the meds recommended is gabapentin. Terry has taken > that since he had the nerve injuries in his accident. Perhaps that is why > he hasn't had major issues with the itching. Hummmmmmmmm...... > > Hugs.......... > Diane > > > Adjunctive therapies > > Below is an excerpt from one of the eMedicine websites. The itching > post from Qoya made me think of posting it. > > MaC > ************ *** > Adjunctive therapies > > Zinc deficiency commonly is observed in patients with cirrhosis. > Treatment with zinc sulfate at 220 mg orally twice daily may improve > dysgeusia and can stimulate appetite. Furthermore, zinc is effective > in the treatment of muscle cramps and is adjunctive therapy for > hepatic encephalopathy. > > Pruritus is a common complaint in both cholestatic liver diseases (eg, > primary biliary cirrhosis) and in noncholestatic chronic liver > diseases (eg, hepatitis C). Although increased serum bile acid levels > once were thought to be the cause of pruritus, endogenous opioids are > more likely to be the culprit pruritogens. Mild itching complaints may > respond to treatment with antihistamines. > > Cholestyramine is the mainstay of therapy for the pruritus of liver > disease. Care should be taken to avoid coadministration of this > organic anion binder with any other medication, to avoid compromising > GI absorption. Other medications that may provide relief against > pruritus include ursodeoxycholic acid, ammonium lactate 12% skin cream > (Lac-Hydrin, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Princeton, NJ), > naltrexone (an opioid antagonist), rifampin, gabapentin, and > ondansetron. Patients with severe pruritus may require institution of > ultraviolet light therapy or plasmapheresis. > > Some male patients suffer from hypogonadism. Patients with severe > symptoms may undergo therapy with topical testosterone preparations, > although their safety and efficacy is not well studied. Similarly, the > utility and safety of growth hormone therapy remains unclear. > > Patients with cirrhosis may develop osteoporosis. Supplementation with > calcium and vitamin D is important in patients at high risk for > osteoporosis, especially patients with chronic cholestasis, patients > with primary biliary cirrhosis, and patients receiving corticosteroids > for autoimmune hepatitis. The discovery of decreased bone > mineralization upon bone densitometry studies also may prompt > institution of therapy with an aminobisphosphonate (eg, alendronate > sodium). > > Regular exercise, including walking and even swimming, should be > encouraged in patients with cirrhosis, lest the patient slip into a > vicious cycle of inactivity and muscle wasting. Debilitated patients > frequently benefit from formal exercise programs supervised by a > physical therapist. Patients with chronic liver disease should receive > vaccination to protect them against hepatitis A. Other protective > measures include vaccination against hepatitis B, pneumococci, and > influenza. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 It's hard to say since he started taking it after the accident. His activity levels have reduced significantly since then and even more as time has gone by and the liver disease has prograssed. He has definitely gained weight since the accident, to the tune of about 100 pounds. We had never really considered whether the gabapentin had anything to do with that or not. Hugs........... Diane Adjunctive therapies > > Below is an excerpt from one of the eMedicine websites. The itching > post from Qoya made me think of posting it. > > MaC > ************ *** > Adjunctive therapies > > Zinc deficiency commonly is observed in patients with cirrhosis. > Treatment with zinc sulfate at 220 mg orally twice daily may improve > dysgeusia and can stimulate appetite. Furthermore, zinc is effective > in the treatment of muscle cramps and is adjunctive therapy for > hepatic encephalopathy. > > Pruritus is a common complaint in both cholestatic liver diseases (eg, > primary biliary cirrhosis) and in noncholestatic chronic liver > diseases (eg, hepatitis C). Although increased serum bile acid levels > once were thought to be the cause of pruritus, endogenous opioids are > more likely to be the culprit pruritogens. Mild itching complaints may > respond to treatment with antihistamines. > > Cholestyramine is the mainstay of therapy for the pruritus of liver > disease. Care should be taken to avoid coadministration of this > organic anion binder with any other medication, to avoid compromising > GI absorption. Other medications that may provide relief against > pruritus include ursodeoxycholic acid, ammonium lactate 12% skin cream > (Lac-Hydrin, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Princeton, NJ), > naltrexone (an opioid antagonist), rifampin, gabapentin, and > ondansetron. Patients with severe pruritus may require institution of > ultraviolet light therapy or plasmapheresis. > > Some male patients suffer from hypogonadism. Patients with severe > symptoms may undergo therapy with topical testosterone preparations, > although their safety and efficacy is not well studied. Similarly, the > utility and safety of growth hormone therapy remains unclear. > > Patients with cirrhosis may develop osteoporosis. Supplementation with > calcium and vitamin D is important in patients at high risk for > osteoporosis, especially patients with chronic cholestasis, patients > with primary biliary cirrhosis, and patients receiving corticosteroids > for autoimmune hepatitis. The discovery of decreased bone > mineralization upon bone densitometry studies also may prompt > institution of therapy with an aminobisphosphonate (eg, alendronate > sodium). > > Regular exercise, including walking and even swimming, should be > encouraged in patients with cirrhosis, lest the patient slip into a > vicious cycle of inactivity and muscle wasting. Debilitated patients > frequently benefit from formal exercise programs supervised by a > physical therapist. Patients with chronic liver disease should receive > vaccination to protect them against hepatitis A. Other protective > measures include vaccination against hepatitis B, pneumococci, and > influenza. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Sharon takes this for neuropathic pain as well. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile Re: Adjunctive therapies Has he had any weight gain problems since he has been taking gabapentin? It caused me to stop losing weight and actually gain weight when I was taking it. Know of others who have had the same problem. Jan H On Sat, Nov 1, 2008 at 3:39 PM, diane chandler wrote: > I notice one of the meds recommended is gabapentin. Terry has taken > that since he had the nerve injuries in his accident. Perhaps that is why > he hasn't had major issues with the itching. Hummmmmmmmm...... > > Hugs.......... > Diane > > > Adjunctive therapies > > Below is an excerpt from one of the eMedicine websites. The itching > post from Qoya made me think of posting it. > > MaC > ************ *** > Adjunctive therapies > > Zinc deficiency commonly is observed in patients with cirrhosis. > Treatment with zinc sulfate at 220 mg orally twice daily may improve > dysgeusia and can stimulate appetite. Furthermore, zinc is effective > in the treatment of muscle cramps and is adjunctive therapy for > hepatic encephalopathy. > > Pruritus is a common complaint in both cholestatic liver diseases (eg, > primary biliary cirrhosis) and in noncholestatic chronic liver > diseases (eg, hepatitis C). Although increased serum bile acid levels > once were thought to be the cause of pruritus, endogenous opioids are > more likely to be the culprit pruritogens. Mild itching complaints may > respond to treatment with antihistamines. > > Cholestyramine is the mainstay of therapy for the pruritus of liver > disease. Care should be taken to avoid coadministration of this > organic anion binder with any other medication, to avoid compromising > GI absorption. Other medications that may provide relief against > pruritus include ursodeoxycholic acid, ammonium lactate 12% skin cream > (Lac-Hydrin, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Princeton, NJ), > naltrexone (an opioid antagonist), rifampin, gabapentin, and > ondansetron. Patients with severe pruritus may require institution of > ultraviolet light therapy or plasmapheresis. > > Some male patients suffer from hypogonadism. Patients with severe > symptoms may undergo therapy with topical testosterone preparations, > although their safety and efficacy is not well studied. Similarly, the > utility and safety of growth hormone therapy remains unclear. > > Patients with cirrhosis may develop osteoporosis. Supplementation with > calcium and vitamin D is important in patients at high risk for > osteoporosis, especially patients with chronic cholestasis, patients > with primary biliary cirrhosis, and patients receiving corticosteroids > for autoimmune hepatitis. The discovery of decreased bone > mineralization upon bone densitometry studies also may prompt > institution of therapy with an aminobisphosphonate (eg, alendronate > sodium). > > Regular exercise, including walking and even swimming, should be > encouraged in patients with cirrhosis, lest the patient slip into a > vicious cycle of inactivity and muscle wasting. Debilitated patients > frequently benefit from formal exercise programs supervised by a > physical therapist. Patients with chronic liver disease should receive > vaccination to protect them against hepatitis A. Other protective > measures include vaccination against hepatitis B, pneumococci, and > influenza. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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