Re: medications

[Guest guest]

I find that 2mg valium helps, I recently started taking them its not like 10 or

5mg because 2minets after I take it it works! I have never seen anything like

it. It must have been made to be fast acting. I have taken 10mg before and its

just a dopey groggy feeling. Sure hope this helps.

Robin in AL

MEDICATIONS

I am currently on Soma to aid my headaches and body aches associated with my

Chiari 1............it is starting to loose its effect. Could I get some

input on what others are taking? Thanks for the responses in advance.

heymom1042@...

Lea in Florida

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dictionaries.html is the website I

> have used to look up these medications and I am confused as to why

> the doctors are perscibing antidepressants as pain killers and why

> they seem to work. Does anyone have any informations on this matter.

> I dont want and will not take a mood stablizer.

Hi Friends,

I had wondered the same thing when I was first put on antidepressants in

1990. They first prescribed them for post op depression, and then when the

depression lifted the daily headaches started.

Our brain produces endorphins, a chemical that helps deal with both physical

and mental pain. Antidepressants help the brain to produce more endorphins,

so it helps with depression as well as pain.

Many medications come about to treat a certain illness or series of

symptoms. Seizure medications were created to help with seizure control, but

some have been found to help with neuropathic pain as well.

Vioxx is a non steroid anti inflammatory medication created to help with

osteo arthritis, but it has been approved for other things as well now.

Just because a doctor prescribes an antidepressant doesn't mean they think

you are a nut case, or depressed, they really do help with physical pain as

well :-)

Kathleen

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I struggle with taking any kind of medication what so ever. The strong

pain meds make me sick and I don't like the thought of taking an

antidepressent also. Before surgery I ended up taking Elavil because it was

either that or be so darn irritable from the pain. I was ok with that

because I knew I was going to have surgery and not have to take it any more.

It was for about 4 months.

It has been almost 2 years since Surgery and I am experiencing pain and

headaches again, not as bad but enought to discourage me and be irritable,

especially with my kids. I hate to hear myself sometimes and I know it is

only because I am feeling the pain.

I decided to start taking the Elevil (Amiltryptyline) again at a low

dose (5 mg) at night. It has made a world of difference with my mental

state and managing the pain also. I am a new person. I am grateful for the

drug and I don't need to tell anyone if I don't want to that I take it. I

just figure what ever works at this point!!

I have an apt with my neurosurgeon in 2 weeks.

Hope this helps and I really sincerely hope you can find some relief.

From someone who understands. ((HUGS))

Cindee, Nevada

medications

> Hello everyone. I hope you all are doing well. I have a question

> about medications. I have been keeping a log of all the medications I

> see mentioned in posts. I am trying to find one that will work for

> me. I have looked many of them up to see what they are made of and

> what the side effects are and the strangest thing is that a lot of

> the medication I look up that people list as their pain killers are

> actually antidepressants or mood stablizers. Befor I was diagnosed I

> was put on paxil because the doctors thought I was depressed. I didnt

> do well on it at all. It gave me terrible mood swings.

> 1. Topomax

> 2. Neurontin

> 3. amiltryptyline

> 4. nortriptyline

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dictionaries.html is the website I

> have used to look up these medications and I am confused as to why

> the doctors are perscibing antidepressants as pain killers and why

> they seem to work. Does anyone have any informations on this matter.

> I dont want and will not take a mood stablizer. But I need to find

> some sort of pain killer that will work. I currently take imitrex

> injections which help bring the pain down from a 10-12 range to about

> a 6-7, I also take Butalbital and flexeril about 45 minutes after the

> injection and the three help take the pain away but then I cant

> function. That is the only combination that has worked for me. I dont

> like taking all these medications. I also have alph-1 antitrypsin

> deficiency and I am worried about damaging my liver with all of these

> medications. Does anyone have any ideas that my help me.

> 32, Michigan

>

>

>

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>

[Guest guest]

> Just because a doctor prescribes an antidepressant doesn't mean

they think you are a nut case or depressed >

This is true, however it's not an exclusionary thing either.

You still may be a nut case. Trust me me on this.

(experience) LOL

Chip

[Guest guest]

My daughter's doc prescribed celexa....an antidepressant...for her headaches

prior to decompression surgery. It worked well for her..also helped her

sleep patterns. I hated the thought of her taking it at so young an age,

but it got her through. God Bless Melody

Re: medications

>

>

> > Just because a doctor prescribes an antidepressant doesn't mean

> they think you are a nut case or depressed >

>

> This is true, however it's not an exclusionary thing either.

>

> You still may be a nut case. Trust me me on this.

> (experience) LOL

>

>

> Chip

>

>

> Help section: http://www.yahoogroups.com/help/

>

> NOTE: NCC refers to posts with No Chiari Content

>

> To Unsubscribe Yourself:

> chiari-unsubscribe

>

> WACMA Home: Http://www.wacma.com

>

> WACMA Online Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chiari/

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Georgia

Some web sites for you on tegretol

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-t01.html

Indications Neuropathic pain (peripheral nerve syndromes)

Diabetic Neuropathy Postherpetic Neuralgia Trigeminal Neuralgia Cancer Pain Management

Multiple Sclerosis Parkinson's Disease Restless Legs Syndrome

Effective in idiopathic RLS

Happer (2001) Neurology 57(9):1717-9

Effective in RLS among Hemodialysis patients

Thorp (2001) Am J Kidney Dis 38(1):104-108

Epilepsy

Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures (rarely used) Partial Seizures (adjunctive agent)

Bipolar Disorder Anxiety Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Social Phobia Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Adverse Effects Sedation Weight gain Nausea Dizziness Ataxia Fatigue Nystagmus

recent study indicated that Tegretol may cause birth defects if taken by pregnant women. If your child was born with a birth defect and you suspect that Tegretol may be to blame, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.

Home: Medical Information:

Tegretol®, Tegretol XR®, Carbatrol®, or Carbamazepine

One of the oldest and still most widely used anti-epileptic drug (AED) is carbamazepine. It comes in many forms including liquid suspension, chewable tablets, and tablets known as Tegretol®. It also comes in two extended release forms Tegretol-XR® and Carbatrol®. The Tegretol-XR® form works on a principal of a tablet which does not dissolve but rather allows water to enter through tiny pores and force out the medication. This slows the absorption of the medication and allows for twice a day dosing. The Carbatrol® works by using a series of three different beads that dissolve at different rates and therefore spread out absorption and again allow twice daily dosing. In the Carbatrol® method, the capsules can be opened and the beads can be taken over food or a spoon for those who cannot swallow. Practically speaking, the Carbatrol® tablets come in 200 mg and 300 mg sizes and the Tegretol-XR tablet comes in 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg sizes and therefore the final dosing may commonly affect the choice of tablet type.

Carbamazepine works for epilepsy by blocking voltage-sensitive sodium (Na+) channels. It is usually thought of as a partial onset seizure medication although it does have activity in some generalized seizure disorders. Carbamazepine does cause birth defects and all women of child bearing years should be taking extra folic acid to help minimize the risk of neural tube defects. The medication also lowers the effectiveness of birth control pills by increasing the metabolism of the estrogen component and therefore it is recommend to not use the lowest dose estrogen compounds available. Women who particularly do not want to get pregnant should consider using a barrier method in addition to their birth control pill. Risks to the fetus is minimized by the patient discussing her plans for pregnancy before trying to become pregnant. Carbamazepine potential serious side effects include liver toxicity and decreased white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Patients who get a fever while taking this medication may need to be seen emergently. More common side effects that limit its ultimate dose include double vision, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, or being off balance. There are a number of potential drug interactions with this medication. Most commonly, it seems that a patient receives an erythromycin type antibiotic which makes the patient become toxic on this medication. Carbamazepine has also been associated with bone mineral loss by some studies although not as severe as that see with Dilantin®. Somewhat more troubling is some epidemiologic data suggesting that Carbamazepine may increase the risk of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

Carbamazepine is widely used for neuropathic pains of all types. This includes neuropathic pain on the face (trigeminal neuralgia), diabetes (diabetic neuralgia), and the shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia). As with all pain syndromes, the key is to increase the dose slowly until the pain is relieved or until the patient experiences some toxicity.

Trileptal® or oxcarbazepine is felt to be very similar in its mode of action to carbamazapine but has very different side effects. It many instances, it is being used in place of carbamazapine with a relatively easy conversion between the two.

Carbatrol® or Tegretol® is widely used by psychiatrists as a mood stabilizing medication. Here is a nice article on tegretol on Dr. Phelps' web site.

Anti-Epileptic Drug Articles

Vagal Nerve StimulatorDepakote and DepaconDiastatDilantin, Phenytek, and CerebyxKeppraLamictalNeurontinOther AEDsTegretol and CarbatrolTiagabineTopiramateTrileptalZonegran

Related Items

Anti-epileptic Related Diseases

Cluster

Epilepsy

Migraine

Neuropathic Pain

Web Sites of Interest

Epilepsy Foundation

Book Recommendations

-- medications

Does anyone know anything about Tegretol? Is it effective against nerve pain? I've got to stop this Panadeine Forte; all the codeine is bad for me. What are the side effects of Tegretol? If I'd grow an extra limb or turn purple then it's all over red rover.

Georgia

[Guest guest]

My husband was on Tegretol before his first surgery 22 years ago. He had severe facial pain. He couldn't drive while taking it, it made him drive kinda like a drunk, making wide turns or too sharp of a turn. It's a wonder that he didn't have a wreck, but it was the only thing to ease the pain until he actually had the surgery.

Doloras

[Guest guest]

>

> Hello,I am on Lyrica and have had some pretty bad dizzy spells, I am

> going to my doctor tomorrow, I think I want to get off this medication

> due to the dizziness and it is not taking any pain away. Could anyone

> please tell me what other medications I can take so I can bring it up

> to my doctor. I have a lot of pain and am thinking of asking him for

> oxycodone, do you think this would help with the pain? Thank you all

> for your responses and thank you for being here as I am new to this

> disease.

> Sincerely,

> Ann

>

Ann, i was also on lyrica, I had severe dizzy spills so bad I was

walking in to walls! I'm on vicodine, flexaral, zomig for my

migraines, and xanax for my panic attacks! My husband was also on

lyrica and he blew up like a balloon! good luck and keep us posted on

what you find out!@ Leanne

[Guest guest]

Ann, I take hydrocodone. Of course, some people take oxycodone which is

stronger. I am sure it would probably helpt the pain.

But let me say that the Lyrica kind of made me lightheaded for a few days. I

am lucky though, the side effects are not bad for me. I know it will make some

people dizzy beyond belief at first. It takes your body time to get use to it.

My wish is that everyone with fibro could take Lyrica.....if it helped them

like it does me. But then again, everyone is different when it comes to meds.

hugs,

Debra V.

anj3330 anj3330@...> wrote:

Hello,I am on Lyrica and have had some pretty bad dizzy spells, I am

going to my doctor tomorrow, I think I want to get off this medication

due to the dizziness and it is not taking any pain away. Could anyone

please tell me what other medications I can take so I can bring it up

to my doctor. I have a lot of pain and am thinking of asking him for

oxycodone, do you think this would help with the pain? Thank you all

for your responses and thank you for being here as I am new to this

disease.

Sincerely,

Ann

---------------------------------

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

I dont know anything about lyrica but my doctors are trying to get it

aproved for my insurance to pay for it. What I do know is that when you

are on vicodin for long periods of time your body starts to stay awake

no sleep on it. My doctor put me on percocet to take only at night and

a muscle relaxer and the added sleep seems to take some of the pain

away not all but it does help if your getting more sleep.

I would like to know if anyone has been on lyrica and had good results?

I have been on alot of medications over the last 7 years and the ones I

am on now seem to be helping the most. I am afraid to be put on

something just because a company says it works I would like to hear

from someone who this realy has worked for please!!

[Guest guest]

Hi, kasper mom,

I have been on Lyrica for about 2 weeks. I can honestly say, I see a big

difference in my pain. I just hope it continues!

I was to the point that I didn't know how I was going to continue to work, but

as of right now, I'm not thinking about that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing

backflips like a 10 year old, I still have my days, but I am very please with

the results. The only side effect I noticed was a bit of light heatedness at

first, but it seems to have stopped now. I sure would recommend it to anyone to

try if they are candidates.

Hugs,

/Mi

Re: medications

I dont know anything about lyrica but my doctors are trying to get it

aproved for my insurance to pay for it. What I do know is that when you

are on vicodin for long periods of time your body starts to stay awake

no sleep on it. My doctor put me on percocet to take only at night and

a muscle relaxer and the added sleep seems to take some of the pain

away not all but it does help if your getting more sleep.

I would like to know if anyone has been on lyrica and had good results?

I have been on alot of medications over the last 7 years and the ones I

am on now seem to be helping the most. I am afraid to be put on

something just because a company says it works I would like to hear

from someone who this realy has worked for please!!

[Guest guest]

I have had great results with Lyrica at 150 2x a day and Effexor combined.

Keeps you off most pain meds. I also take klopin at bed time with another

drug called mitrpine or something like that. I certainly sleep now. Comma

like but I feel better.

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 4:39 PM, kasper_mom_777 clewis5914@...>

wrote:

> I dont know anything about lyrica but my doctors are trying to get it

> aproved for my insurance to pay for it. What I do know is that when you

> are on vicodin for long periods of time your body starts to stay awake

> no sleep on it. My doctor put me on percocet to take only at night and

> a muscle relaxer and the added sleep seems to take some of the pain

> away not all but it does help if your getting more sleep.

> I would like to know if anyone has been on lyrica and had good results?

> I have been on alot of medications over the last 7 years and the ones I

> am on now seem to be helping the most. I am afraid to be put on

> something just because a company says it works I would like to hear

> from someone who this realy has worked for please!!

>

>

>