I don't know about the statement about old drugs being played off as pain meds. I take 2 "epilepsy" meds for nerve pain and the relief is SO much better than what I get from my Morphine OR the Fentanyl patch that I wear. I have herniated & badly degenerated discs at 3 levels. The ones in my neck cause me to have horrific headaches, and cause pain AND numbness to radiate out my shoulder and down to my fingertips. Were it not for Topomax and Zonisamide (both of which cause weight loss-- yay!) I would be in bad shape. I only have numbness in the very tips of my fingers and my arm feels pretty good. No headaches either! I'm pretty glad to be taking those meds that are meant for other things but had surprising side effects.