My husband was dx’d with TN just yesterday-thanks for all the welcomes!
He started right away on Tegretol, titrating doses.
We are so grateful for the diagnosis, and I am looking forward to learning all I can learn about this horrible disease here (this is his wife, Danielle, by the way).
He's in the midst of his worst episode yet since this all started 6 weeks ago; it's been been getting progressively worse these past 8 days, and he just woke up in the worst pain I've ever seen him in. Is it ok to give him something to try to help with the pain in addition to the tegretol? I have a couple spare vicodin tabs left over from an accident, and thought he could take one. I know you're not supposed to take other people's meds, but I'm desperate to get him some relief!
I’ve always heard that most narcotics don’t work for nerve pain. However, I’ve read on here that they have helped many with TN who have taken them. That being said, when I was at my worst I begged the MD for something to take along with the Tegretol and she prescribed Vicodin saying that she wasn’t sure it would help. (Said only because the same MD prescribed both Vicodin and Tegretol for me so they must be OK to take concurrently.) The Tegretol took 4 - 5 days to kick in to control the pain and the day I got the Vicodin I started to improve and never took any. You are right to question whether to give him any meds that were prescribed for you. I found that taking 600 to 800 mg of Ibuprofen with the Tegretol is what helped me the most, but then everyone is different. I would call his MD and more than likely, if the MD knows him, he or she would prescribe something without having to bring him in for a visit. Good luck. I hope he is feeling better really soon!!
Welcome! So sorry hear of your husbands pain. My Dr prescribed Vicodin along with all of the anti convulsants that I have been on. When that did not help the pain he gave me Percocet. At one point, I was alternating Vicodin with Percocet and still taking Baclofen and Lamictal. Thankfully I had Gamma Knife and now only take Lamictal. Check with his Dr but I would think they would give him something to help with the worst pain. Good luck. You will both be in my prayers!