I need something to help manage my dental pain (diagnosed with Atypical Facial Pain after root canal with pain that won’t go away in teeth that were treated last year). I did not have success with Elavil - it actually made my pain worse for the 3 days I was on it and I think that is because it put me in such a state of tachycardia that the adrenalin ramped up the pain so now I need to find an alternative. Gabapentin did not work either and side effects were too hard to take at a low dose. What would someone recommend next? I’ve read that Desipramine can sometimes help and I’ve read that some people get help with Prednisone? I know that Tegretol is another option but I am afraid of sie effects given that I seem to be very medication sensitive. Thank you.
Maybe you could check with your doctor about Doxepin which I take. It is a TCA like a Elavil but maybe different?
It is a good medication discovers in 1970’s, and has help me a lot with my ATN. It will make you very sleepy at first. I was too sensitive for antiseizure drugs, and did not like being out of it mentally. I take 25 mg 3 time a day. When in pain, I will take this RX and will have relief anywhere from 30minutes to a hour. My problem started with dental work.
Also, I did have one year of remission following the first year that I got ATN. Mine came back the third year (at present) after having teeth clean. I am hoping for another remission.
Also, you can get a compound cream from a specialty pharmacy with an antiseizure drug in it. You will use this on skin, and you have very little side effects in comparison to take the pill orally.
I have many hours a day with no pain. I am thankful this in comparison to others.
Thank you for responding Linda. My only pain is in my two front teeth so are you saying I could rub a compound on the teeth to stop the pain?
I put the Gapabentin compound cream on my face near the tooth pain area and behind my ear. I also use capsaicin cream which you can buy over the counter and it works very well with the dosage of Doxepin 25mg. 3 times a day.
I wil get relief from pain within one hour.
I do not put any cream directly on teeth - just face above gum line.
I will put both creams on 4 times a day.
I will get 8 hour of complete relief when I occasionally use 1 (.25) Xanax or Tramodal.
Otherwise the pain will come and go through out the day, but it only last a few minutes and not severe.
My pain is in tooth, throat, and ear. I am able to work full time at age 65. My ATN Was caused by dental work.
I can give you my formula for compound cream if you want it.
I got this from another person on this website. My doctor was willing to let me try it since March 2016.
The only side effect that I noticed was increase in short term memory lost and dropping things a lot around the 3rd month.
But these symptoms went away in a few weeks
These sides effects were nothing in comparison to taking pill orally.
Yes, please give me the formula and I will ask my doctor to see if I can try it! Thank you and I’m happy to know that this compound has given you some relief!
Compound cream : 6% Gabapentin
10% Ketprofen
5% Ketamine
I apply 4 times daily. But I also apply Capsician cream which I buy from Walmart which also works very fast.
The Capsician cream will burn skin at first, but will quit burning after a day or two. Try not to get in eyes. It is easily transfer to places. Use glove to,apply or use soap and vinegar to get off hands. It is hard to keep it out of eyes but it work very well by depleting the p substance in nerve which causes pain. It is use by people with arthritis. I apply it four times a day sometimes along or with compound cream.
My insurance will not pay for compound cream.
Please try a TCA if your pain is ATN.
First time I used antiseizure drugs with a lot of side effects
And horrible withdrawal. 2nd time TCA (Doxipen 25mg 3 times a day.
TCA will see you sleepy at first but that will go away when you are active in daytime.
Also, peppermint gum and candy helps a lot.
My condition the first time was extremely painful but the second time has been less painful - perhaps the way I treat it now.
The 6% Gabapentin can be increased to 10% which some members use.
Also, you don’t have to,use Gabapentin.
You can try a different antiseizure Rx.
Please read my answer which I just posted on living…
Also, you will need to call around to find a speciality pharmacy that will make this compound. Mine cost $120 for two pumps which last me 2 months so basically paying $60 per month. Federal BC will not pay. This is a lot less than treating side effects from taken it orally. Also, put some behind your ear and neck on painful side. This is near the place the surgery MVD is done. This is
where the nerve start from the spinal cord. I just guessing that is a good place for cream. I could be wrong. I also have pain in ear -burning and aching. The two creams help this area a lot .
Don’t use ketamine!!!
Research this drug and withdrawl before using it.
I have a ketamine cream and I use it not very often.At times when the pain is awful I smear it over half my face-but when it is not that bad I do not use it as it does not work as well as taking pills.
But that is me.
have you had a problem with it?