Re: meds to prevent vs meds to control

[Guest guest]

Hi, and welcome to the group! The hardest thing about finding

the " right " combo of meds is that what works for one person is that

it may not work for the next person. Like you, I had a horrible

time with Neurontin. Just know that there are MANY different things

that can be tried to find just the right regimen for you.

When Elavil, Neurontin, and different things didn't work for me, my

psych decided to up the level of Topamax I was on. I was already

taking it as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder, so he bumped me

up 100mg to also use it for chronic pain control. It made a huge

difference...for a while at least. I just recently had to go up to

400mg. I also take Celexa, an anti-depressant, for both the bipolar

and Fibromyalgia; Bextra for chronic tendonitis; Restoril for sleep

(was on Ambien, but it gave out on me); and when I'm having a flare,

I take Oxycontin for pain, and Soma for muscle spasms. It seems

like a lot, but when you have and illness like this, meds can fast

become your best friend as much as the bane of your existence.

Stress, as well as a lot of other things, can trigger a flare. Or

the monster can just rear it's ugly head with no warning, no

trigger. There is not always a rhyme or reason, which is why FM is

so frustrating. Be very kind to your body, and try not to overdo

it. Most everyone will laugh at me saying this, as I'm not one to

follow my own advice. I'm stubborn as hell, and don't like to budge

an inch, and usually end up paying for it in the end. I'm

constantly pushing my limits, which I don't recommend. Doctors do

recommend some form of gentle exercise....they say it helps with the

pain and fatigue. I chose walking as mine. I like to walk at the

local park or cemetary and really enjoy the scenery and being out in

nature. Being cooped up all winter has been tough, so I'm very

anxious for spring to get here so I can get outside again.

Anyway, welcome, and I hope you enjoy the time you spend here. Ask

a lot of questions. There are a lot of great people here, with a

vast amount of knowledge.

All my best,

Jen

[Guest guest]

The neurontin that you were rx'd is an extremely high dose, especially

for someone just starting out on it. The usual dose is to start with

300 mg. the first day, 600 mg. the second day, and then 900 mg. the

third day (spaced out over a three dose interval of 300 mg. per dose).

The ambien is to help with restorative sleep.... I take it when I am

taking my diet pills, as otherwise I would bounce off walls. The ambien

should not be taken until you are actually in bed and ready to go to

sleep. It is not a medication to take an hour or two before bedtime.

You might consider adding Flexeril to help relax your muscles at

night... I do not personally take it, but know of many others who swear

by it.

To me, it is better to take medication to PREVENT the pain, rather than

treat the pain once it is there. It is much easier and requires fewer

meds, to ease the pain (or prevent it) BEFORE it gets out of control

than it is to try to get it back under control once it is there. I was

once rx'd Prozac but could not take it... caused me to break out in

pouring sweats. I take Celexa and Zyprexa for depression/restorative

sleep. However, as of tonight, am going to discontinue the Zyprexa as

it causes weight gain. My psychiatrist said that Celexa, on the other

hand, may actually cause weight loss, which is what I need. Exercise is

critical for FMS... as much as can be tolerated. Some people are in

such pain that a few simple stretching exercises are all they can

handle. I had gotten to the point that I was walking 2 to 3 miles a day

walking my dogs until tendonitis flared up in my knee in January. A

trip to the ortho and cortisone injections into the knee made the pain

MUCH worse and landed me in bed for 3 weeks. I am only just now

beginning to get back into the swing of things and starting from scratch

on my walking regime. If you are in a lot of pain, you should discuss

adding actual pain meds to your current drug regime. I take 40 mg. of

Oxycontin twice a day with Lortab for break through pain. However, my

internist who rx's these medications has cut me off on the Lortab, so am

going to either have to live with the pain or look for another doctor,

which I don't like to think of doing. But doctors now are so scared of

losing their license because of the recent Rush Limbaugh scandal that I

doubt I would find one even willing to rx the Oxy, so will probably just

take OTC aspirin, tylenol and ibuprofen for the breakthrough pain, and

then when my liver profiles go sky high, maybe my internist will see

that the megadoses of tylenol are going to kill me and put me back on

the Lortab. I wish I could just have this whole nightmare go away.

Hopefully this has helped you some. If I can answer any more questions,

please let me know.

hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

I am still new to all of this (diagnosed in October 2003). My doctor

seems to want me to take meds all the time. I was wondering which

way works for others. Medication to " prevent " symptoms, or to

attempt to keep them at bay, or medication to ease symptoms when they

do arise. I would also appreciate any input as to what types of meds

work for others. I have tried 600mg neurontin 3 times a day which

just made me too tired to function. At the same time I was taking

800mg ibuprofen 3 times a day, 20mg Prozac and 1/2 a 10mg ambien at

night. I didn't see a change in anything other than my pharmacy bill

was higher. I had gone through a week or two of feeling pretty good,

but then over the weekend the dragon awoke. I think it may have been

triggered by the fact that my hubby had to have an emergency

appendectomy Thursday night. He was allowed to come home Sunday

afternoon. He is feeling some better, but due to the size of his

appendix they had to make a 4 inch incision and he is sore. I think

the stress of this (plus dealing with our 4 kids) has caused this

flare. Any advice is appreciated on meds. I feel as if I am banging

my head against a wall with this combo of prescriptions.

Thanks for being here!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi There!

I was also recently diagnosed and am taking neurontin 300mg at night

and one in morning. I also take sinemet cr for nightime as it really

does help my leg pain.

I just started on Flexeril and found it to really make a difference

in the muscle aches. I take 1 10mg at night and one 10mg in the

morning. At first it made me sleepy in the afternoon. But I think

my bods adjusted as I don't feel sleepy mid day anymore.

Last weekend was the first weekend that I have had in a long time

where I didn't have to take any pain meds at all. I was amazed!

I also take ginko biloba in the morning to help with my foggy head.

Other supplements are magnesium/calcium/zinc combo I take at night

and quercetin/bromelain I take for allergies. I also take singulair

for allergies. I'm going through immunotherapy so hopefully I'll be

able to stop the allergy meds soon.

Peace,

)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Earth is my home and animals are my family. Life is my religion and

love is my example. Peace and freedom belong to us all.

> I am still new to all of this (diagnosed in October 2003). My

doctor

> seems to want me to take meds all the time. I was wondering which

> way works for others. Medication to " prevent " symptoms, or to

> attempt to keep them at bay, or medication to ease symptoms when

they

> do arise. I would also appreciate any input as to what types of

meds

> work for others. I have tried 600mg neurontin 3 times a day which

> just made me too tired to function. At the same time I was taking

> 800mg ibuprofen 3 times a day, 20mg Prozac and 1/2 a 10mg ambien at

> night. I didn't see a change in anything other than my pharmacy

bill

> was higher. I had gone through a week or two of feeling pretty

good,

> but then over the weekend the dragon awoke. I think it may have

been

> triggered by the fact that my hubby had to have an emergency

> appendectomy Thursday night. He was allowed to come home Sunday

> afternoon. He is feeling some better, but due to the size of his

> appendix they had to make a 4 inch incision and he is sore. I

think

> the stress of this (plus dealing with our 4 kids) has caused this

> flare. Any advice is appreciated on meds. I feel as if I am

banging

> my head against a wall with this combo of prescriptions.

>

> Thanks for being here!!!!

[Guest guest]

Kristy,

Sometimes there is a definite " need " for preventative meds, such as

in my case. I HAVE to take Bextra, Celexa and Topamax every day, or

I wouldn't be able to walk, or live among functional society. I

have chronic tendonitis and bipolar disorder. Bextra prevents my

tendons from going insane, Celexa keeps me from falling into a very

deep depression, and Topamax prevents me from having manic episodes

that wreak total havoc on my life, and that of my loved ones. It

also keeps my daily pain under control. I've been without these

meds before, and my life was a very poor quality. Preventative meds

aren't for everyone, but for me, I couldn't do without them.

Love,

Jen