I started Tegretol around 6 months or so ago. I am having the normal side effects of fog and memory issues, but I am also having issues of just feeling hollow. I reduced the Tegretol from 400mg 3x a day to twice a day at the expense of some of the burning coming back. It is definitely affecting my relationship. I don't feel depressed because of my TN. I think that I have dealt with that monster in my head, but now I feel that maybe it is the medication? Has anyone else experienced this? I just feel that I am no longer capable of being happy. Any suggestions?
Have you thought about antidepressants
L8ybug. I’m so sorry you are feeling this way. I too have had that problem from Gabapinten. I won’t say that I was suicidal but I was not at all happy, just wanted to sleep all the time. Since that time I have been on several different medications, had an MVD and gamma knife. I am still in a lot of pain so am starting the medicine go a round all over again. I was taken off of all meds after my MVD because my Sodium took a noise dive. Since that time I have tried 3 different antidepressets and Cymbalta works far better for me than others. Please have the courage to talk to your doctor. Find something that works for you. There are so many different meds out there. It is easy to get discouraged but there is hope. Wishing you pain free days.
Please try to regard you feeling of never being able to be happy again as something that is temporary. Know that that feeling, like all feelings, come and go. I had a hellacious time adjusting to a massive amount of gabapentin, but eventually something shifted. I am still a bit slow off the mark but I feel good and look forward to many things in life.
This is in no way to dissuade you from going the cymbalta route. Just don’t think this is it forever. Be proactive. Try to get unstuck. Make a list of all the wonderful things in your life and the things you’d like to do in life. Know that we are all capable of loving and being loved, even with this monster pain.
Keep Heart
Bellalarke
Bellalarke said:
Please try to regard your feeling of never being able to be happy again as something that is temporary. Know that that feeling, like all feelings, come and go. I had a hellacious time adjusting to a massive amount of gabapentin, but eventually something shifted. I am still a bit slow off the mark but I feel good and look forward to many things in life.
This is in no way to dissuade you from going the cymbalta route. Just don't think this is it forever. Be proactive. Try to get unstuck. Make a list of all the wonderful things in your life and the things you'd like to do in life. Know that we are all capable of loving and being loved, even with this monster pain.
Keep Heart
Bellalarke
Sorry for the double reply here, not sure what happened…
Thank you all for your responses. I am trying hard to just think positively and just look ahead. I am hoping that I don't have to take the route of antidepressants. This Christmas was so hard. And worst yet, I am job shopping and facing interviewing for mgmt type positions. I am really afraid I am not going to be able to survive the interviews. I don't want to add more meds on top of it. I appreciate all of the positive input. It really does help.
Kristen, I am going to say something that might sound counter-intuitive but I hope it will help get you through the tough week you face. It is actually easier to Live positively than “trying really hard to just think” positively. There is too much worry involved with trying hard to think positively. But living positively is more like being open, more in present time. So when you go into your interviews be who you are and what you know. Find a place in your mind where your pain can do its own thing, don’t try to suppress it, just elbow it out of the way a bit, so you can do what you need to do. Try to get extra rest, and let Christmas go, it’s in the past now.
One medication that some find helpful in tight situations like interviews is Xanax. It is quick acting and not long lasting. It can help stop the stress response from cascading into worse pain. Just a little goes a long way…
Hi Kristin. It’s just the meds Hon. I’ve had dreadful experiences just like yrs. I’ve taken cymbalta and prevailing for 3 yrs now. My meds r lower due to steroid injections at the moment and feelings and a sense of being present has returned xx
Cymbalta and pregablin!!!
I take slow release tegretol and endep an anti depressant its my 4th day on this drug combination, so Im hoping the foggy lost feeling that leaves me feeling empty and hollow passes. I am spending time staring at things with a dead look on my face and wandering around like a lost zombie. I still get attacks but they happen at about 4 in the afternoon now instead of all night and day, so I am really grateful for that, but the only time I feel good is about 5 in the afternoon when my pain killers kick in, so I quickly try and catch up on everything I haven't done, then that goes. I feel ungrateful for complaining though because my pain is better, but this medications are deadening everything. I cant laugh, don't feel happy etc.. (and dry mouth is crazy). I hope for you and I this gets better with time Kristin. I cant remember what I was like on just normal Tegretol, But it wasn't like this.
Ask your pharmacist…about side effects
there are several different types of meds you can switch to…ask your doctor
…here is a list compiled to print off
http://www.livingwithtn.org/forum/topics/for-those-on-the-medicaion…
Can Many times, lower meds by prescription lidocaine face patches…
Hi Farmgirl,
I'm on a similar mix as you and have been on and off for a year now - Gabapentine and Endep. You can get some mouthspray and chewing gum from the chemist, its called Biotene (in VIC OZ) and it works really well. I find people react as though you're untrustworthy when you suffer from dry mouth, so well worth the investment :) For the Endep It takes about six weeks to really settle down, but once it does I've been able to think more than I could on any of the other meds. I've recently just gone back on Gaba with the Endep because I needed a couple of fillings and its all been a bit volatile since then. I usually use the Gaba to settle it all back down and use the Endep to maintain once its there. 5zillion times more magnificant for me than the Tegretol. I couldn't string two thoughts on that stuff, even though it worked brilliantly. I also think what Bella said above is really important too. Live life as it is, now. Do it with love of the miracle of your life as it is. xx Smiley:)
farmgirl said:
I take slow release tegretol and endep an anti depressant its my 4th day on this drug combination, so Im hoping the foggy lost feeling that leaves me feeling empty and hollow passes. I am spending time staring at things with a dead look on my face and wandering around like a lost zombie. I still get attacks but they happen at about 4 in the afternoon now instead of all night and day, so I am really grateful for that, but the only time I feel good is about 5 in the afternoon when my pain killers kick in, so I quickly try and catch up on everything I haven't done, then that goes. I feel ungrateful for complaining though because my pain is better, but this medications are deadening everything. I cant laugh, don't feel happy etc.. (and dry mouth is crazy). I hope for you and I this gets better with time Kristin. I cant remember what I was like on just normal Tegretol, But it wasn't like this.
I tried Tegretol and Gabapentin. Both relieved my pain, but I had severe brain fog on both, and I had to stop taking them or quit my job, so I stopped. I just started Cymbalta January 2nd. My pain in general is not continuous, and the Cymbalta is doing a good job relieving it. I am struggling to sleep - I wake up 3 or 4 times a night - but I am functioning better. I am hoping the sleep problem will go away.