Over the past couple of years i have been reading on sites such as this that more and more doctors are prescribing anti-epileptic drugs for depression and pain relief.

Personally I am horrified, since I have first hand knowledge of the effects of these drugs, and have studied the subject of Neurotoxicology.

These drugs do indeed ease pain and miniscule doses do ease depression. What worries me most is the fact that doctors are prescribing high doses on par with anti-convulsant therapies.

All anti-epileptic drugs are cerebellar toxic. The cerebellum is a part of the brain responsible for regulating movement and balance. I personally have cerebellar lesions caused directly by these drugs. I have cerebellar/brainstem dysfunction. This means that I cannot stand or sit unsupported.

Withdrawal from these drugs is very dangerous. In my case the neurologist withdrew the drugs abruptly. I suffered a withdrawal convulsion so severe that I broke my back. I also suffered spinal cord damage and a dislocated rib.
I am now paralysed and need a wheelchair to get about. Do not ever discontinue taking these drugs abruptly.

Experience has shown me that doctors do not study the actions and effects of drugs--especially this group. They do indeed stop pain but only by causing damage to the central nervous system. The right side of my face is paralysed and the right sterno cleido mastoid has shrunk to nothing. All this has occurred over many decades of long term low dose.

It is true that the doctors have found an effective painkiller. What will the eventual price be?. They used to use arsenic and mercury as cures in the same way that they are blindly using these very powerful drugs. They dont seem to be bothered about the final outcome, after all, they are only patients aren't they. The doctors are professionals who are allowed to conceal their failures

Hello, Jackie.

Although I can understand your concern there is another side to this issue.

There are diseases that damage the Central Nervous System (CNS). Because there is damage to the CNS and in many cases the cause of the damage can not be repaired or cured drugs are sought to help with pain.

I have Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that has no cure and damages the CNS. The pain associated with this disease is neuropathic and traditional pain meds most of the time won't even touch the pain.

Medications such as anti-seizure/anti-epileptic help, to a point, with neuropathic pain as well as other symptoms. Many would not be able to function was it not for these medications.

Many drugs need to be slowly tappered off of or withdrawl syptoms can be horrible. Some medications can be addicting. In either case there are people who can use these drugs responsibly without a problem.

Yes, I am well aware of what you say. I suffered greatly from these drugs in that they CAUSED great pain. However, what I am stressing is that Doctors basically dont really know what they prescribe. They described my pain and general malaise as "all in the mind". Not one of them had any idea as to the toxicity of these drugs. Indeed in 1974 two of them were withdrawn from sale because they were proving too toxic. Bear in mind that most drug induced abnormalities are subclinical therefore no signs for the doctor to see. There will always be a percentage of patients who will get away without real problems -- identifying these people is not possible. It is in effect Russian roulette with drugs. The losers have a worse problem than MS

I do not believe the entire blame should be on the doctor. A patient has a right to decline any treatment and/or medications. It's always wise to be an informed patient.

I am going to assume you have no idea what MS can do and ignore your comment.

Many here at NeuroTalk have neurological problems and the group of drugs you are referring to helps them with pain.

Hi Jackie,

I'm very concerned about the drugs I'm on. They keep my pain at a point where I'm not screaming in the grocery store (too often). However, I'm on a VERY HIGH dose and I've heard this can cause pain in the long run.

I tried to cope without medication, but I was a spasming, screaming mess. I have a small child and I have to hold it together. In my case, I wonder if part of the problem is that my neuro won't refer me to a pain specialist and insists on doing his own doping. Frankly, I think he's way out of his depth.

Cheers

you assumed wrong--- read my post the way it is intended

There has been concern lately (disbelievers check the web themselves) about all types of anticonvulsant drugs causing suicidal thoughts in some patients. When these drugs are given to depressed patients or to patients with severe pain perhaps the medical profession should give extra monitoring to keep their patients safe.

Whilst I was waiting to see the neurosurgeon for the results of my MRI scan, I noticed on the table, a model of the spine and pelvis. Included in the model were the ligaments sacral/pelvis and pubis.
I at once realized that the pain was eminating fom these ligaments and not from any bone.
The neurosurgeon, upon seeing me sitting in my wheelchair, did a short examination of my legs and recorded that I have some antigravity function in both legs and that sensation was altered somewhat mainly on the right side.

I now began to realise that I was putting extra effort into my mobility to counter the weakening leg situation. The extra effort was causing me to overload those ligaments thereby causing some damage. The damage also caused inflammation in the whole pelvic region which in turn led to the loose bowel problem.

The Neurosurgeon recommended that my GP refer me to a Neurologist. This means another long wait. I still had no advice regarding the pelvic problem so I decided the only way to get relief was to sort out the problem myself.

I reasoned that if I kept load off my pelvic region, the ligaments would heal in due course and that would reduce the inflammation --- and -- hopefully end the bowel problem.
I have been following this course of action for several months now. I am fairly sure that I have succeeded in allowing the ligaments to heal since the pelvic discomfort is no more -- and -- my bowel actions are almost normal now.

When I eventually get to see the Neurologist I fully intent to put him/her straight regarding the unreliability of my medical records and merely seek an honest and accurate examination and diagnosis.
pigs are flying low today ----------

I have received a date for a neurology appointment Monday 18th July.
It should be quite interesting. The problem with my neck, I believe, is due to the brainstem dysfunction causing the spinal accessory nerve to malfunction. ( I wonder if they will spot it) The right upper eyelid also is drooping, --another cranial nerve misfunctioning.
The only real puzzle I have is why my buttocks should be not working. From what I read, this bit involves the sacrum area nerves. Ah well, we will see.

The appointment was extremely interesting. The total consultation was just 15 minutes. The Doctor read my prepared history, but I doubt very much if he understood it. He was a foreign person and without any examination he declared the SCM atrophy was due to old age and told me to forget the past.
Thankfully he did order an EMG test which is basically what I wanted.
I have no faith or trust in this person. He did not examine any muscle functions and it seems that he forgot to bring his tuning fork along. He conducted Babinsky test in half a second, and I dont think he was actually looking at my feet at the time. After reading my prepared drug record which said that I have taken no drugs for 20 years, he asked what drugs I was on now.
This is an example of the National Health Service in West Yorkshire. They may boast about saving some patient's lives - but I do wonder how many they have actually killed