Way to go Suzi! This could be it and the med is really working…I do hope so for you.You are lucky not to gain weight on the pregabalin,it’s a big one for that.Keep us informed! All the best…
I'm currently taking Cymbalta (which is suppose to help depression AND nerve pain) but I am going to taper off of it in January. I've taken it for 6-7 years now, I think? I began taking it when it first became available. It worked for about a month. I went through all the upped dosages until I maxed out. This summer I made a decision to get off anything that hasn't worked in a year. So Cymbalta is on my list to get off of. It's going to be rough. I have missed a pill here and there throughout the years and the ZAPS are no joke! I wonder -- what in the world is going on in my brain! It's more difficult imo to get off of anti-seisures than opiods. I tapered off Hydrocodone and was dizzy for a day. No biggie. I was on a 12mcg Fentanyl Patch for 4 months this summer and it virtually took my pain away. I couldn't believe it. The doctor who prescribed it moved so I have a new PM doctor appt Dec 21st. I'm going to request it per a letter my family doctor is going to write. I vaguely knew it was used for stubborn Chronic Pain, but never thought it would work for my ATN/Burning Aching Toothache type of pain until the the day I placed it on my upper arm and within an hour or so, my constant toothache feeling disappeared! He stated that a lot of people do not react well with anti-seisures (as I have taken them for 17 years!) and he doesn't understand why they are considered "the norm" for face pain treatment. To me, anti-seisures are worse than opiods. We have no clue what the long-term effects are. My Doctor obviously could tell I wasn't an addict etc and he wasn't a pansy-a&& afraid to prescribe it to me. I miss his care. He really understood not just nerve pain, but PAIN in general.
I'm currently on Cymbalta, Hydrocodone, Xanax, and a horrible Lidocaine Mouth Rinse that I'm not going to buy again. It made my mouth burn worse! Gahh. I'll have an updated list after my Dec. appt.
Take care and face this face pain with faith and tenacity!
justjane37 said:
I gained weight on Amitriptyline too. Probably 20 lbs. But I had lost at least that after ATN came on. The left side of my mouth was so sore that it was a complete chore to even open my mouth.
I switched to Nortriptyline which does have less side effects and I lost probably 10 lbs. I have been off all meds for a few weeks and weight is still coming off. It is this bloated, puffiness that these meds seem to cause. But, like you, I would trade those lbs in a second to get rid of that pain. And I will again.
What med are you on now Juliette? And is it working for you? Do you have ATN?
Juliette Suzanne said:I remember Elavil being the first med I was put on back in 2000. I also remember sleeping and sleeping ALL night, which is now just a vague memory. What I remember most about Elavil is that it did indeed lower my pain levels for a few months, but it made me gain over 50+ lbs! Have you or anyone else had that happen on it? Once I quit taking it due to it no longer working, the weight slid right off. Now don't get me wrong, if there was a med that helped my pain and never wore off but made me gain weight, I'd be a walking pain-free humpty-dumpty! But unfortunately, it did wear off and my pain was right back to increased levels. Just curious if the weight gain was me or the Elavil. I know everyone reacts differently.
Thanks in advance. Keep "facing" and fighting this pain like the pain warriors we are!
justjane37 said:How long have you been taking these meds? I am not sure how long Lyrica takes to work but Amitriptyline really takes two to three weeks to really kick in. You need to give them a fair shot before giving up. I know how hard it is to do that while you are in pain but you won't really know if you don't.
I was on Amitriptyline for a year. It sure is amazing for sleep (I still miss it sometimes for that) but for the pain it takes quite a bit longer to work. Also, depending on your dose it may need to be increased. I first saw improvement at 25mgs but there were times I was up to 60mgs.
Hi Juliette Suzanne,I tapered off pregabalin and had horrific withdrawal symthoms which put me to bed for ten days and I did it very slowly.I then withdrew from nortripyline again slowly and it was a dream.Pregabalin is an anti convulsant and nortripyline an anti depressant.I agree with you re the meds and withdrawal, well for my body at least.
Juliette Suzanne said:
I'm currently taking Cymbalta (which is suppose to help depression AND nerve pain) but I am going to taper off of it in January. I've taken it for 6-7 years now, I think? I began taking it when it first became available. It worked for about a month. I went through all the upped dosages until I maxed out. This summer I made a decision to get off anything that hasn't worked in a year. So Cymbalta is on my list to get off of. It's going to be rough. I have missed a pill here and there throughout the years and the ZAPS are no joke! I wonder -- what in the world is going on in my brain! It's more difficult imo to get off of anti-seisures than opiods. I tapered off Hydrocodone and was dizzy for a day. No biggie. I was on a 12mcg Fentanyl Patch for 4 months this summer and it virtually took my pain away. I couldn't believe it. The doctor who prescribed it moved so I have a new PM doctor appt Dec 21st. I'm going to request it per a letter my family doctor is going to write. I vaguely knew it was used for stubborn Chronic Pain, but never thought it would work for my ATN/Burning Aching Toothache type of pain until the the day I placed it on my upper arm and within an hour or so, my constant toothache feeling disappeared! He stated that a lot of people do not react well with anti-seisures (as I have taken them for 17 years!) and he doesn't understand why they are considered "the norm" for face pain treatment. To me, anti-seisures are worse than opiods. We have no clue what the long-term effects are. My Doctor obviously could tell I wasn't an addict etc and he wasn't a pansy-a&& afraid to prescribe it to me. I miss his care. He really understood not just nerve pain, but PAIN in general.
I'm currently on Cymbalta, Hydrocodone, Xanax, and a horrible Lidocaine Mouth Rinse that I'm not going to buy again. It made my mouth burn worse! Gahh. I'll have an updated list after my Dec. appt.
Take care and face this face pain with faith and tenacity!
justjane37 said:I gained weight on Amitriptyline too. Probably 20 lbs. But I had lost at least that after ATN came on. The left side of my mouth was so sore that it was a complete chore to even open my mouth.
I switched to Nortriptyline which does have less side effects and I lost probably 10 lbs. I have been off all meds for a few weeks and weight is still coming off. It is this bloated, puffiness that these meds seem to cause. But, like you, I would trade those lbs in a second to get rid of that pain. And I will again.
What med are you on now Juliette? And is it working for you? Do you have ATN?
Juliette Suzanne said:I remember Elavil being the first med I was put on back in 2000. I also remember sleeping and sleeping ALL night, which is now just a vague memory. What I remember most about Elavil is that it did indeed lower my pain levels for a few months, but it made me gain over 50+ lbs! Have you or anyone else had that happen on it? Once I quit taking it due to it no longer working, the weight slid right off. Now don't get me wrong, if there was a med that helped my pain and never wore off but made me gain weight, I'd be a walking pain-free humpty-dumpty! But unfortunately, it did wear off and my pain was right back to increased levels. Just curious if the weight gain was me or the Elavil. I know everyone reacts differently.
Thanks in advance. Keep "facing" and fighting this pain like the pain warriors we are!
justjane37 said:How long have you been taking these meds? I am not sure how long Lyrica takes to work but Amitriptyline really takes two to three weeks to really kick in. You need to give them a fair shot before giving up. I know how hard it is to do that while you are in pain but you won't really know if you don't.
I was on Amitriptyline for a year. It sure is amazing for sleep (I still miss it sometimes for that) but for the pain it takes quite a bit longer to work. Also, depending on your dose it may need to be increased. I first saw improvement at 25mgs but there were times I was up to 60mgs.