Anti-seizure, Anti-convulsant Meds For Pain

[Chava]

Has anyone used medications like gabapentin (Neurontin) or other anti-seizure meds for pain with some success? I need a change and see a new doc in a couple weeks who should be able to prescribe something more nuanced or accurate than my primary.

I've been taking tramadol, which masks some pains but longterm isn't helping me because it numbs me out. Flexeril is helpful but makes me such a zombie if I use an effective dose. I can't stand it. It's like I smoked horrible ditch weed, though I wake up in less pain. I'd like to avoid the opiate route. A pain psych suggested I might need something different than the stuff I'm on for chronic pain, but visit to new M.D. would be the place to look at other options. I've never tried anything in this class of drugs for chronic pain.

 

[digger]

I tried Lyrica (pregabilin), which is a,similar drug I think, but I couldn't manage the side effects from it. I do know other people who have found it really helpful for pain management though.

 

[Lucycat]

I think it depends on the type of pain as to how effective it might be. If you don't mind me asking @Chava , what is the cause of your pain?

 

[Chava]

Thanks @digger ...the potential side effects do look scary, but I think I tolerate Flexeril better than some people so who knows. Gabapentin looks like, if anything, it would have helpful effects on mood/psych. But if new doc thinks Lyrica would fit, I'd be willing to at least try.

@Lucycat , it's not perfectly understood...why I was referred to pain psych but I can't see trauma therapist and pain psych because the pain psych thinks that would be a duplication (frustrating). I've had lots of tests. Might be somewhat similar to fibromyalgia (tested negative on that), but more localized and intense/debilitating. Minor structural issues that don't explain it...mostly intense myofascial pain and spasms, muscles locking up. Pain psych thought a med that more targets nerve responses might help...basing that on her knowledge of chronic pain but she can't prescribe. There's a negative feedback loop when the pain gets bad and I feel trapped and immobilized (I'm NOT, but the pain is a trigger in itself)...all of life is better when pain is under control.

 

[Lucycat]

Pain psych thought a med that more targets nerve responses might help.

A good call. Another anti-convulsant that helps with nerve type pain is Carbamazepine. I have not personally used it as I don't have chronic pain, but I have heard of very good results. I think your new doctor will be full of suggestions, and that is good as it is not like there is only one option. If the first thing does not help then you can keep on trying.

 

[Chava]

That sounds like a hopeful option, too. Thanks @Lucycat . Definitely some misfiring or over-firing. I've been working with the pain some in therapy (Somatic Experiencing and other body-focused trauma work), not totally sure if it's connected to early abuse or medical trauma, but it's definitely connected to all of my meltdowns. Main thing is keeping it controlled. Insurance will stop paying for my therapy soon so I'm trying to be especially diligent on making life manageable. I'm connected enough to know when something is NOT working, which makes it easier for me to try different meds.

 

[joeylittle]

@Chava, I was on topamax (topamirate) for awhile, its in the same class as lyrica and also lamictal (lamotrigine), another anti-seizure med. I was taking these for depression, not pain. I can tell you that topamax, for me, was very light on the side-effects. The biggest one was it made me kind of dopey (in my head I still call it Dopeymax). Lamictal did inadvertently get rid of some chronic pain I have, but the effect on my mind was not good.

Lyrica is really controversial. (like, what isn't?). I think you need to pay attention to whether or not you are taking brand or generic, and among the generics, which manufacturer you use. There was some case a few years back about one lab's generic lyrica being more or less just fillers.

 

[Chava]

There was some case a few years back about one lab's generic lyrica being more or less just fillers.

Well that's just shit. I'm always on the generic stuff (I call it "Flexeril" because it's easier than "cyclobenzaprine"). I'm sensitive to dopey or wired, like being tipped towards either edge (will let new doctor know this). But it would be great if I had something that could also help with mood, as a side perk. I know the pain is worse with some mood stuff and that the pain will also feed into triggers. But all the standard SSRIs, SNRIs, etc. did not work for me. Tramadol really helps the pain but it's losing effectiveness and I refuse to keep increasing the dose on opiate-like stuff at this point in my life. Maybe when I'm 90.

 

[joeylittle]

Yeah, I had to get into learning about generics because I'm on wellbutrin, and the generics are kind of famous for not working.

And, it looks like the info I'm recalling is not relevant to the US. There won't be a generic til 2018. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ins-ruling-to-block-generic-lyrica-until-2018

Lamictal really did help with my mood. And I was on a low dose, and it was surprising how it erased my joint pain. But, cursory research shows that there is no study yet that shows most of these drugs effective for pain (except lyrica). Gah, I hate medicine. Hang in there. That's such a lame thing to say, but it's heartfelt, at least.

 

[darrenS]

i have both nerve and structural pain from spine, i have tried Lyrica, Gabapentin, Neurontin and im sure a few others, ive had Vicodin, Morphine, Tramadol , Percocet, Methadone, Butrans Patches, Zohydro and a few others. I have also had several back injections, nerve cauterizations and a few other procudures. I have suffered serious pain since i was a teenager and have used all types of meds since then. I have moved through 4 states whilst being in the US , and each time have had to find a whole slew of new doctors. I have learnt one thing , pain is a multi billlion dollar "industry" , i have seen it grow in the time i have been here , i have also seen new drugs and procedures on a fairly regular basis .

I found Lyrica and most of the other nerve pain drugs to be good for a short time , ie 3-6mths , i was on it for a lot longer (4yrs) and allowed a couple of dose increases, but never really felt after the first initial period that it was effective. (i continued taking it as my doc says it has the ability to increase strength of opiates without danger.) i eventually done a tapered withdrawal of my own.

I have never found a complete regimen of drugs that was truly effective in every way, some were great with normal pain but left me wanting with nerve pain - but i never found a great nerve pain med, the only one i know that works as i have discussed before is cannabis - the only pain med that came close and was the best pain med i had so far was butrans patches , sadly i had a skin reaction to the patches and had to cease applying them.

It was also great with ptsd , as its half life is 72hrs and i never experienced the highs and lows that you can get with taking pills, ie ...the time between doses when its wearing off and then the slight lift when you take another pill

 

[Chava]

Unfortunately I feel like I need to stick with legal stuff where I'm at, but maybe someday...:woot: When I was younger weed was the one thing that made eating something and just going to bed seem reasonable so even then I wondered why this wasn't my medication.

Thanks @darrenS ...seems like everything quits working at some point. I know meds won't fix the cause of pain but I feel like I need a break from it because it's been dragging me down too much.