Sorry but I live in NYS. Doctors face huge fines & imprisonment for giving Rxs for narcotics for more than 4 days.
Most of us are not even on narcotics… They are anticonvulsant and such.
Speedbird, I'm researching the entire subject area of opioids and chronic pain. If you can provide references to published accounts of doctors being persecuted in the manner that you summarize, I would very much like to read them.
Regards, Red
speedbird2 said:
Sorry but I live in NYS. Doctors face huge fines & imprisonment for giving Rxs for narcotics for more than 4 days.
I am no expert in NY medico-legal issues, but in 2013, the NYC mayor rolled out a plan (not legislation) that asked ED physicians (only ED physicians) to *voluntarily* limit opioid prescriptions to a 3-day limit. Hopefully, that is the misunderstanding. Red, thanks for staying on top of what is being done in this arena! I, too, am curious if there is something more onerous in place.
I got a rash and ended up in hospital three days after starting Gralise(gabapentin)
Then in hospital I started hallucinating which lasted about a week and was so very scary.
I was mistaken. NY doctors were requested to cut-back on opioid prescriptions. They are misintepreting it as I did, that it is mandatory.Sadly, most doctors I visited refuse to give Rxs for any opioids. They think they will lose their licenses.
Super old thread, but I take baclofen now. Far cheaper and in my eyes safer after my crazy awful reaction to carbamazepine.
Pros - it does seem to help me. My GP thinks I also have TMJ and I’m starting to believe that since I do get weird pain that feels like a muscle ache. And side effects, well, I have few from it. And it’s pretty cheap. 10 bucks a month at Walmart. I can safely say I’ve gone from an 8 on the pain scale to a 2 or 3, a 4 on a bad day. I used to numb with Orajel every day a couple times a day, I’ve been on baclofen since March and I’ve used Orajel… maybe three times since?
Cons - the karma bus ran me over for saying I don’t like treating side effects from one medication with more meds, because now I’m on Benadryl every night so I can sleep thanks to the baclofen. Apparently insomnia is pretty common according to the pharmacist. Also, it’s three a day, and trust me, I can definitely feel it wearing off at night. I swear I can set a watch to when I can feel it wearing off.
I have the opposite reaction with Baclofen. I only take it, with Gabapentin when I’m having a pain episode. I take Lamotrogine every day but add the other two when needed. They knock me out and if I don’t fall asleep I move around like I’m drunk. If I’m sitting I’m out-of-it. Plus, the effects last for about 18 hours … On two pills! It’s crazy but has been crazy good. Last Friday I left work early because My face was starting to really hurt. I took the Gabapentin, Baclofen and an extra 200 mg of Lamotrogine and slept on and off through the day. The pain was gone Saturday morning! But, as I’ve said many times, each one of us is different. There’s no telling what will work the next time or the time after that.
I’ve been on tegretol for a few years and just started baclofen. Even though these are usually used for classic TN, they work better for me than the atypical meds. I found both gabapentin and nortriptyline to be rather useless in comparison.
what kind of facial pain???
Yes Had the pain on top of severe back pain. I got the back pain relieved with surgery. Then back to the TN I saw my ENT Doc and he would not prescribe over 900 MG of gabapentin but it was not working only temporary. I went to see neurologist and he said I could go up to I believe 2300-2600 MG daily. I got up to 2400 MG daily the pain went away. I have slowly backed down to 900 MG daily. 300MG in the morning and 600 MG in the evening. I do not have the pain. I want to go down some more and see what happens but as you might guess I am a little afraid to let the pain get a foothold. I probably should try 300 in the morning and 300 at night. I will then check with neurologist on next trip.
I have atypical and tmd and nortriptyline is a lifesaver for me. I had recently stopped gabapentin but then found that it was actually helping the burning feeling in my mouth so I just started back at a low dose. At my worst, hydrocodone helped me just survive the days; but now I’m at a relatively good place. Opiods apparently don’t help regular TN but can be very helpful for TN2 and other mouth pains.
Hi Kc wondering if you could give me some more hints on finding this other page or group. I am brand new to TN -well sorta, diagnosed 3 months ago. I am so glad to have found this group and reading post here have helped me more than anything else so far. I am interested in checking out atypical atn as well but can’t seem to find it. Maybe I’m just too foggy from meds 
Thank you for addressing this important topic. In the spirit of sharing, I am taking 1800 mg of oxcarbazepine coupled with 75 mg of amitriptyline daily. I have been on this two-punch regimen for the past four+ years, at the same dosage, with excellent results. I can’t remember when I last had TN pain. This combo, for me, seems to be effective and and manageable, and having a tricyclic antidepressant to punch-out the pain, has really done the trick for me!
I’m trying a new drug from my pain dr. Belbuca patch that is placed high inside my cheek and is absorbed through the mucous membranes. So far it will last about 6 hours. I will do this for 2 weeks, report to my doc and probably be raised to a higher dose. I’ve had mvd that worked for a little over a month. I would do it again but neurosurgeon says no. Gamma knife is not an option. I have excruciating flare ups that the monster had awakened 2 friends. Inside my ear and the back of my head. So frustrating and depressing. TN and atypical are a nightmare that people cannot see and they say uneducated things that are hurtful. Keep trying difficult meds and find a pain dr that will listen. It’s your pain! Good luck
Can you tell me the side effects you’re having from the amitriptyline (if any)? I have an RX for some but I’m waiting until I go to the pain specialist, hoping he’ll have a miracle drug for me…
Hi there,
I have not had any significant side effects from taking amitriptyline over
these past four years. As with any drug, there was a short period at the
beginning as I adjusted to the medication. If anything, it made me
slightly fatigued at first. Now, I can say that I am not noticing any
major obstacles or reactions from taking the drug. You have to allow
yourself a ‘gentle’ period as you get used to it. It has worked really
well for me. Hope this helps you and that you will feel better soon!
kind regards,
Robert
Thank you Robert. If I can get used to Trileptal and Neurontin, this should be easy.
Nancy
Question regarding baclofen… Two weeks ago I started on baclofen - low dose since I broke out with a rash from the lamotrigine. Last Sunday, I passed out and the ED and dr attributed it to the baclofen. The prescription has been increased since then. I am going to give this med a try and see if it works… the pain has diminished a bit. I saw the neurologist on Thursday and I do not have any other meds that I can take if this does not work. My next option is either MVD or alternative therapies. This is getting to be crazy… My family and friends are don’t understand what a toll this takes on you… what do I do…:
Hi Jennifer…your posting in June popped up and I got to wondering just how you are doing these days?Best Wishes!