Peripheral Neuropathy - Amitriptyline & Gabapentin & Pregablin tablets

clemmatis

Anyone who has problems with amitriptyline, but not severe problems, might ask their GPs for nortriptyline instead; it works exactly the same way but has less strong side-effects. Like amitriptyline, it does take a month, and sometimes more, to work, but it does (a neurologist told me) help stop the tingling as well.

TrixieB, I have all these symptoms too. Luckily I'd already been referred to a spinal surgeon by another consultant -- for different reasons -- he was able to assure me my back and neck problems weren't causing the tingling etc.. But they could have been -- I do have disc problems -- can you get a referral?

(Diazepam is great for muscle spasm etc., I was prescribed it the first time I slipped a disc. Pity doctors are now so scared of it.)

poly1

I have suffered from Neuropathic pain from peripheral neuropathy for the last 22 years!!! When it first developed I was prescirbed Tegretol (Carbamazepine) because they had no GABA based drugs in use at that time (e.g. Gabapentin or Pregablin) which I understand are better because of reduced side effects? If all else fails maybe it is worth asking for a different type of drug like Tegretol, after all they are all anti-convulsants and there are no specific drugs that treat our condition.

luminated

poly1 wrote: »

and there are no specific drugs that treat our condition.

I am so lucky in that I don't really get pain but all else (numbness especially feeling like one of my legs is not mine) and still, on bad days, feet/legs feeling hot/cold and can't tell which. It is also strange for legs to feel cold and face be sweating in this warm weather.

I have been for several tests at the hospital and seen the head consultant in neurology. The consultant hums and ars wondering if he can arrange more tests but my GP says NO more tests and about which I agree.

formaldehyde_perfume

Although I am in a great deal of pain a lot of the time, I am blessed that I seem to have no noticable side effects with most drugs so at least I have pain management options. I am taking both gabapentin and amytriptaline and seem to have no ill effects, I have noticed that the amitriptyline can make me a little sleepy but I was told to take it at bed time so that has never been a problem.. FYI Although I do not have CFS (not diagnosed, anyway) I do have chronic fatigue so would be unlikely to notice any loss of energy or fatigue problems that either of these two medications are reported to cause.

HTH

davsidipp

husband is taking 75mg a day of amitriptyline and it makes him very sleepy but does help with his muscle spasms caused by nerve damage but does still suffer in pain without the added cramps.

sunnyone

davsidipp wrote: »

husband is taking 75mg a day of amitriptyline and it makes him very sleepy but does help with his muscle spasms caused by nerve damage but does still suffer in pain without the added cramps.

Thats the same dosage as me, does it help him to sleep, it does with me.

I changed for gabapentin a couple of years ago to Pregblin and it has less sides for me but it dosnt aid sleep as much, Im now changing to Duloxin (sp) but I dont think I will stay on it as Im not sleeping or wasnt at least till I got a 99p box of herbal sleeping aids which actually work!

I dont know if its a random interaction with my other meds but prescribed sleeping tablets dont help me at all so Im over the moon to find something that helps.

BTW we arnt allowed to discuss meds here so dont be upset if the thread disappears, try to read the thread often Op so that you see any posts asap just incase.

luminated

sunnyone wrote: »

BTW we arnt allowed to discuss meds here so dont be upset if the thread disappears, try to read the thread often Op so that you see any posts asap just incase.

When I first posted I realised it may not last long but hey while it does as I really can't think of where else to get such a good snapshot of thinking.

I hope the MSE powers are compassionate and generally recognising that there are threads, like this, that aren't strictly money saving but it is helping their members.

Lets face it it isn't spam, or trolling or Andying :eek:

davsidipp

yes it helps him sleep sunnyone but too much his best friend is his bed at the mo.

luminated

davsidipp wrote: »

yes it helps him sleep sunnyone but too much his best friend is his bed at the mo.

:T

Yep same as me the bed is my best friend, followed by comfy sofa with four squishy cushions, remote controls for my TV/hard drive, kettle for my caffeine, laptop but mainly to read as often I am too tired to type.

But my best'est friend is my wife who takes care of me and puts up with the limitations my health has imposed on our lifes.

davsidipp

yep im one too my husbands illnesses have stoppped alot of things we used too but you learn to adapt although hard you look at other people in a worse situation.