How do people cope with the side effects of their medication?

rev229

I have a back and neck injury due to a car accident (non-fault) 2 years ago. I have been in pain since. To cope with the pain I am on very strong pain killers, drugs to ease the nerve pain and drugs to ease the side effects of the other drugs ie nausea, constipation and itching!I am fed up with the side effects particullarly the drowsiness. I started a new drug last night on a very low dose 1/9th of the dose the pain clinic has prescribed and I fell awful today. Nausea, very sleepy and dizzy! I have a disabled child who needs to be supervised when at home and I can barely keep my eyes open! How do others cope with medication and the awful side effects. I just want to be pain free but without the drowsiness etc. Thanks

tenacioust123

Hi

It depends what drugs you are on, I take quite a lot including morphine. I have over time got used to the side effects and don't feel that drowsy. Gabapentin seems to be the worst for me it gives me stomach pains and nausea occasionally. Tbh I put up with slight discomfort as long as it helps my pain level.

TT

rev229

tenacioust123 wrote: »

Hi

It depends what drugs you are on, I take quite a lot including morphine. I have over time got used to the side effects and don't feel that drowsy. Gabapentin seems to be the worst for me it gives me stomach pains and nausea occasionally. Tbh I put up with slight discomfort as long as it helps my pain level.

TT

I have just started the gabapentin last night very low dose but have been feeling rather strange and really sleepy. No way could I drive today. But some days I need to drive which is why I hate feeling like this.

tenacioust123

rev229 wrote: »

I have just started the gabapentin last night very low dose but have been feeling rather strange and really sleepy. No way could I drive today. But some days I need to drive which is why I hate feeling like this.

I 've been taking Gabapentin for a few months now. When I 1st started taking it I felt really weird sort of spaced out and not with it. But that soon settled down so give it time. Like I said before occasionally it makes me feel a bit sick, it doesn't last for long. Make sure you eat regulary I find that helps.

Good Luck

TT

pipkin71

I also take gabapentin.

At first, I had hallucinations with it, but I was in hospital at the time so could be monitored. I have found that I suffer from slight memory loss and sometimes difficulty in concentrating. Thankfully, this doesn't encroach too much on everyday life, but can be annoying.

I've also noticed that I drop things more often and have experienced weight gain but I am also unable to get around as much so that doesn't help either

I agree with tenacioust that eating regular meals can help with the nausea, and the drowsiness seemed to settle down after taking it for a while.

I do look back to how I was before taking the gaba though, and I remember feeling that I wanted to phsically chop my foot off to get rid of the pain. I don't want to go back to that pain again, and although it still flares up, it's not at the same intensity or never ending, so some side effects are worth it if it means I'm no longer experiencing the pain I was.

andrea_louise

Hiya, I was on Gabapentin last summer, it was horrendous, I took the tablet then knew nothing for about 5 hours! Eventually my GP prescribed pregabolin, the pain releif was not as good as the Gabapentin, but the side effects were dramatically reduced!

Good Luck

anguk

My OH has been on gabapentin for 5 years now for phantom limb pain after he had his leg amputated. At first he was taking 3 a day and felt really sleepy and a bit sickly but after a few weeks the symptoms lessened, he only takes 1 a day now.

It took us a while to work out that it was the gabapentin giving him the problems because he takes so much medication. He's up to 14 different types a day now, some to help with his illness, some to stop him getting problems and some to stop the problems caused by the medication he's on!

rev229

I have been taking it for 4 days have not even thought about increasing it as I am so drowsy and at night having some very odd dreams. I also feel quite sluggish. Although I am sleeping at night I feel awful in the morning ans no way could drive, this is a real problem.

ladylumps45

struggling with side effects of meds is very hard to deal with.i have a daughter of 12 and a daughter of 12 months and i often get so low because i cant be a "real" mum to them because of how ill i feel most of the time.
im on up to 75mg(micrograms i think)of fentanyl opiate patches,oramorph drink,diazepam,topirimate,acetazolomide,amitryptyline amongst other drugs.they make me sick,hallucinate,dizzy and tired.i take a very good anti sickness tablet which helps.my husband is my carer and basically does everything for me and the girls.
my illnesses make me suffer but so do the drugs in different ways.
we all seem to get these effects but we manage to keep plodding on:D.
im was lucky enough to be referred to adult social services this week for assessment.

pipkin71

ladylumps45 wrote: »

struggling with side effects of meds is very hard to deal with.i have a daughter of 12 and a daughter of 12 months and i often get so low because i cant be a "real" mum to them because of how ill i feel most of the time.
im on up to 75mg(micrograms i think)of fentanyl opiate patches,oramorph drink,diazepam,topirimate,acetazolomide,amitryptyline amongst other drugs.they make me sick,hallucinate,dizzy and tired.i take a very good anti sickness tablet which helps.my husband is my carer and basically does everything for me and the girls.
my illnesses make me suffer but so do the drugs in different ways.
we all seem to get these effects but we manage to keep plodding on:D.
im was lucky enough to be referred to adult social services this week for assessment.

I sympathise ladylumps.

I'm a single parent so have to get on with things. It's difficult when friends and family take my girls places because I can't and then I feel guilty.

I do get to spend loads of time with them though, as we home ed, and the girls are at an age - 10 and 12 - where they can do things themselves rather than relying on me.

The assessment will be good. I've had mine and the help has been of benefit. They think of so many things you probably haven't considered.

The mix of drugs does come with varying effects, but as you say, we have to keep plodding on. Thankfully, my hallucinations didn't last for too long - was very weird though

pipkin71

rev229 wrote: »

I have been taking it for 4 days have not even thought about increasing it as I am so drowsy and at night having some very odd dreams. I also feel quite sluggish. Although I am sleeping at night I feel awful in the morning ans no way could drive, this is a real problem.

What strength capsule / tablet are you on rev?

Perhaps talk to your GP about the side effects. S/he may offer you something else.