What other meds can I try for neuro/burning/tingling pain?

[Jadis]

I tried Zonegran - at a level that's effective, I woke up the next day after taking it with "morning sickness" for about 3 hrs. Nausea, vomiting, etc.

Was switched to Neurontin and have taken it for approximately 5 years. For the last 6 months, if I take it, I get horrific heartburn. I was taken off it.

Now it's wintertime. I went out last night for Mars Watch. I sat outside in 34-degree weather for 4 hours. I didn't get cold. I had on turtleneck, sweatshirt, jeans, spandex tights. My feet had socks and my Oklahomas. Since I have no ability to feel cold below T12 injury, I threw a blanket over my legs about 2 hours into my outing.

I know my feet/legs weren't cold. I periodically checked them. Besides, I had on Merino Wool Ragg Socks and my Oklahomas are shearling lined. In spite of all of this, my normal burning/pins and needles leg pain has more than doubled. I've been fine this summer without taking neuro meds. The pain has been the same as it would be during the winter while on medication, so I could tolderate it without medication. This pain kept me up all night last night and we haven't really hit our winter yet. We still will drop another 30+ degrees, or more, if it happens to be a harsh winter here. I'm in a pocket in the Rockies. We are either milder than Eastern Montana or worse than if the jetstream hits us just right.

Now, with this in mind, I am worried. I know about Topamax and Lyrica. Neither have generics because they are new. I have no insurance and do not qualify for assistance even though my husband has only made $6k so far this year. Needlesstosay, money is tight.

What other medications are out there that I can try?
What do you SCIs take for your burning pain? (besides Neurontin/Gabapentin or Zonegran/Zonisamide)

thanks in advance!

[Broknwing]

Well Sis, 'ya know I was gonna suggest Topamax....BUT the financial thing is a problem.....HOWEVER, I think I forgot to tell you..... If y'all have AAA one of the benefits of it is Prescript drug discount & it's already paid for itself 3xs over in just a month and a half!!!! Soooo.....Check out AAA as a discount on your 'scripts....WoW what a difference it's already made...

[Jadis]

Thanks, don't have AAA tho :(

[robeec]

i've been on neurontin a few years now but just the past 2-3 weeks i too have been getting wicked heartburn--esp in the morning. you think neurontin has caused your heartburn? i'm only taking 200mgs 3times a day....interesting.

[Jadis]

might be. I was even put on protonix to help with the heartburn thinking it was caused by my gastric/colitis problem. Took me off the neurontin, a month later i went off the protonix on my own.

[Broknwing]

Thanks, don't have AAA tho :(

Darn it! I was hoping you were gonna say you had AAA and that would help solve a couple problems. :(

[metronycguy]

gabitril,zonegran

[alan]

Lamictal, Keppra, tricylic antidepressants.

[Jadis]

gabitril,zonegran

thanks, but as I mentioned, those are the two I have tried. I'm looking for others that work and hopefully have generic form.

[metronycguy]

amitriptyline is cheap, it does work pretty well,10 or 20 mg is what i was prescribed,works well in conjunction with other neuropathic pain meds too.
was the generic neurontin that caused the heartburn, a different manufacturer? there has been a couple threads on the difference between the generics.
also contact pfizer , i think they t free meds for people that cant afford them

[razzle51]

What do you mean by AAA??

[WM]

Hi Jadis,

My relative who has a SCI was put on Cymbalta for mood/depression by his neurologist. She mentioned during that appointment that one of the things it also does is help with neuropathic pain. He does not have neuropathic pain so I cannot tell you how well it works for that, but it might be worth asking your doctor what he/she thinks of it. The neurologist said that she "has another para patient who loves it", so I'm guessing maybe that patient does have neuro pain and it helps.

Try this site for Rx assistance. I've used it successfully in the past to help my clients at work find assistance:

http://www.needymeds.com/

[Jadis]

What do you mean by AAA??

American Automobile Association

Thanks WM, I was on antidepressants when I was first hurt in 1998. I took them for about a year. I'm wondering if I need to go back on them.

[WM]

Then maybe you could kill two birds with one stone with the Cymbalta, Jadis. razzle51 said in her thread that she had a bad reaction to it though.

http://carecure.org/forum/showthread.php?t=53485&goto=newpost

My relative has not had that happen yet. Hope he doesn't! He was very sick at his stomach the first week, but it passed.

[Stiggy]

What are the side effects of amitriptyline.

[razzle51]

First of all Where are the Salish Mountains? I am still looking for a pain reliever , the Requip I was put on is not working out. So I probably go back to the Topamax and a little ameritriptline on the side . I dont know about side effects on amertip except can cause weight gain . yes remember if yu try the cymbalta be careful it can sneak up on ya. Good luck . I will see whatthe dr. says tomorrow.

[tocker]

I have been taking amitriptyline and it has been working okay. My dose is 100mg per pill. I'm not certain how much the cost is...it sounds like some before me have a better idea on that. It has helped my burning pain (on the back of my thighs) but I have had some problems with the weight gain side effect. I have halved my dose recently to lose weight (from 200mg per day to 100mg).

I'm sorry to hear that your burning has gotten worse with cold temperatures. I was warned by my Dr. when diagnosed that cold temperations would aggrivate and could worsen the burning pain (central pain for me). I have not had the courage to test it yet. My husband is from the Flathead Valley in Montana and has been homesick lately. I have wondered if the cold winters would effect me. I'm taking your experience as a yes. He'll be visiting alone when he goes in the winter now.

Good luck finding a med that helps,

tocker

[Jadis]

Tocker, remember I spend a lot of time outside in the winter. I was sitting outside for several hours in near freezing temps looking at mars. That's what's triggered it. Some people have enough sense to stay inside, but I'm not one of them.

yes, my feet are still tingling and burning as normal, but since I figured out a way to keep me warm while doing stargazing, it hasn't been a problem.

The thing that causes me problems more than the cold is the constant up and down of barometric pressure. I had more problems with feeling cold when I lived back east than I do now.

I do still need a med to replace my neurontin. Amitryp does sound familiar and i think I was on that before. I'll have to look through my med log.

Salish Mountains are a cluster of mountains on the southwest side of the Flathead Valley in Montana.

[alan]

What are the side effects of amitriptyline.

Check www.rxlist.com for medication information.

[mike bauer]

The onlything to dent it for me after 2 years of pain is a time releae morphene.. avils or somethig.... then Morphene 3 times day. Only thing.. Hard o take cause of the contipation however.

[metronycguy]

amitriptyline for neuropathic pain can be effective at low doses such as 10 to 25 mgs..

[ceron2]

Try Lyrica. it may be a big help, it was for me:)