Medication Switch

Hello everyone. You can read my page about my tumultuous experience these past two years with TN…right now I am trying different meds until my appointment with a neurosurgeon at the end of April.

I want to know: has anyone else noticed that you start taking a medication and it offers some minor relief, maybe the ability to drink water and chew somewhat, and then a week later it wears off but the side effects don’t wear off? This has been my experience with Neurontin, Tegretol and Lyrica. Right now I’m taking Tegretol and Lyrica combined and it barely helps anymore. This is so frustrating. I am ready to collapse and just give up. Thanks for reading, friends.

-Kara

Hi Kara, yes you nailed it, thats exactly what happens to me and I then have to take more and more. However when I do, somehow I got to a point where some of the dreaded Tegretol side effects did go away (and I don’t really understand why this happened but sure didn’t complain about it) and I plateau.
I am now lucky am having some relief from a procedure called cryotherapy. I’ve decreased from 1400/1600mg daily to just 600 and going down weekly.
Hang on in there Kara.
Don’t give up.
Lyn

Hi Kara
Tegretol really puzzled me…some days the fog was so much i couldnt do much but stay in bed & sleep.Then other days the side effects were very minimal…Teg did relieve my pain but then again I was taking 2000 mg a day.I believe it all had to do with the way my liver released the medication…still did not know when this would happen.Had MVD surgery January 29/2010 and I am happy to say I am pain free and completely off the Tegretol…I’ve been completely teg free for almost 3 weeks.Wish everyone could have the success I have had.
Godbless

Brian