Started with the gabapentin which made me a walking zombie with pain but not zaps or pulls in my face. Discontinued and was put on carbamazepine on 7/11/14. Very sluggish, dizzy, vision is weird - looks like my skin has gotten lighter and my pee looks blue, I know it's the meds. I very sensitive to light. Only taking 300mg a day still in pain and having facial zaps and pulls. I rarely took Tylenol, aspirin - anything I have no tolerance for drugs before my trigeminal nerve injury/damage.
I started with Carbamazepine when I was first diagnosed. After the first pill I could barely speak, walk or keep a thought in my head. It was awful. I went on Grabapentin which worked well but made me so drowsy I could really only take it night. I was then prescribed Lamotrogine which has worked best as it doesn't make me tired and has no side effects. It's good at keeping pain at bay. When I am having pain (like now) I add Grabapentin and up my Lamotrogine. It sort of helps. So does 800 mg of Ibuprofen ... at least it works enough to keep the edge off.
Southern gal: we are all medical zombies. They could make a series on the Walking T N zombies with no probs. I found I cannot stay out in the sun with carbamaz as I break out in small red spots which if I pick (sorry if this is icky) I find a small round stone? This is only weird thing and that occurs after being in sunlight. Since I am down to 600 mg of Carb and up to 600 of the GABA I am not seeing or feeling much difference. Could be I am still having latent dentist issues however I am feeling my mouth pulls to one side when I speak once in awhile due to upper and lower jaw pain
I am trying just plain old extra strength Tylenols as a backup. The Tylenol 2 made me feel ill. I do have a high pain tolerance so I put up with most of the atypical jaw pain but it takes a toll nome as I become very tired and when I have to take next dosages that is when the woozy out of it feeling takes over
Don’t you just luv being special? That’s what my friends tell me
Take care
Chippy
So, my doc has upped my Carb in an effort to avoid trying different meds or surgery. I’m now at 1200 Carb & 1600 Gaba. Most days I’m pretty foggy, sort off & on. I am mostly frustrated with the feeling of losing words. It just sucks. Or I will say a completely different word. I feel increasingly dumb. And a little bit like a research rat. I’m still getting pain…the zaps as well as a feeling of it ‘sitting there’. My pain is situated near my left eye & is being called Atypical since I seem to have no triggers. A vein has been spotted compressing the nerve on an mri. I am nearly 2 years in, off work & pretty sick of all of this.
Kimmington. I feel for you and your pain. Yes it does suck. I used to be on high doses prior to Gamma however I feel I am going to continue increasing my meds if these doses aren’t enough but giving them a chance to work before the doctor says ok let’s try an increase. Did you see Dr Ken Casey’s video where he talks to a support group wherein he is of the belief that some atypical patients can get MVD for thir pain. I met him back in 2008 at a face pain conference He is devoted to helping alleviate pain. Might be worth a watch for you. Just Google his name.
I hope you can find a peaceful moment in your day and something that will make you smile
Chippy
Hey Chippy. I'm taking gabapentin, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, and clonazepam all together. They keep playing with the dosage of each. I have some relief at times but nothing long lasting. I tried lyrica too but it did nothing for me. Just hang in there and wait it out. Some of the combinations help some people but they take time. I hope your combination works.