I'm really confused and would like your opinion



Went to my general doctor yesterday with what turned out to be trigeminal neuralgia. She put me on Neurontin. It was dulling the pain. Still had it but I was only on it for 24 hours. It was at least tolerable.



She sent me to a neuro, whom I saw today. He said Neurontin was not the best line of defense and put me on Baclofen. I'm back to severe pain (although he said it wouldn't help immediately)



Isn't Neurontin a nerve pain medicine and Baclofen a muscle relaxer? Isn't trigeminal neuralgia nerve related? Is Baclofen better than neurontin? Just doesn't make sense. I'm tempted to stop the Baclofen and go back to the Neurontin.



Another reason: pharmacist says not to take Baclofen with Zanaflex. Zanaflex does a good job with my spasticity. Baclofen isn't touching spasticity.



ANY feedback would be greatly appreciated

Strangley enough, I recall being on both at the same time. Baclofen doesn't work for me and it made me go through withdrawals when I stopped taking it. Whch is weird that I don't have that prob when I come off of opiate pain meds.

If the neurontin works, I say stick with it. As far as I know, baclofen is a mucle relaxer and neurontin works for nerve pain even though it is actually an anti siezure med.

I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. It's really tough to find out what works for you, medicine-wise.

I see you found the T.N. board, I hope you can find some answers there.

For my 2 cents worth, I know mine's triggered mainly by birth control (Depo Provera was the worst, combination birth control pill wasn't much better). I now have a Mirena, and that seems to have resolved the mess of my cranial nerve drastically - perhaps by regulating my hormones?

I also take Clonazepam for Burning Mouth Syndrome (low dose, .75 mg daily) and Cesamet for my neuralgia pain (not T.N.) so I'm not sure if perhaps either of these medications can be thanked for keeping my acute type 1 T.N. attacks (the sharp, stabbing, throbbing, pulsing pain in the head) under control/non-existent.

I honestly believe the hormones are more so to blame in my case, and keeping them 'regulated' as such is why I'm not having such dreadful attacks now.

I agree with the others, stay on the N if it's helping and drop the B..

The Neurontin (Gabapentin) targets the Sodium Channels in the Nerves, slowing the conduction there can reduce Seizures. It does work very well to reduce Neuropathic Pain also. The Baclofen is a Muscle Relaxant that works very well for Muscle Spasms, which can cause major pains. Since the Neurontin worked for you and the Baclofen isn't working I say go back on the Neurontin. You may find that you actually need both of them, at a fairly low dose of each. I would question your Neuro on his reasons for the switch, don't let it be dismissed.

Hello, I suffered now 6 months I have dentures Im 47. I feel like Im losing it nothing is helping. I wish you the best. Youre not alone hugs Catherine

I was on gapapentin (neurontin) with my first neuro. My current neuro started me on baclofen when spasticity reared it's ugly head...did zero for me.

Then he prescribed the generic of zanaflex (tablets). Again did zero for me. In his experience, when baclofen and the gen of zanaflex doesn't work, he prescribes the capsule form of zanaflex.
He tells me to use gabapentin when I have to go on a requip holiday (a drug for restless leg syndrome). Otherwise I stay away from it. you need to wean off of it gradually and not stop cold turkey. It didn't really help any with the neuropathic pain I experience.

Hope you find some relief...I heard that TN can be a bear to live with...

Great to find this site. Have had MS 6 yrs, most symptoms have subsided the past 2 years.

New spasticity pain the last 2 months that are so server I can't dress myself (I had to call my 8 year old to come to my job to help me retie my shoes just now). Thought I was doing something wrong with meds, work, sleep. My dr says it arthritis sent me for PT, Chiropractor -- both have been extremely helpful but explain it something else.

MRI found nothing new (running joke here)

Dr put me on Bacolfen -- 0. I have a dr appointment Wed because the pain is keeping from walking more than 10 yards. This site will help

I was on both baclofen and neurotin. I had the same understanding as you as to the purpose of each medication.

But with neurontin - this is a drug that is not to be taken when needed, it is a drug that is slowly introduced into your medical dosing routine and should be ramped down if you decide not to use it.

Verify with the pharmacist. Please be sure to consult the pharmacist/doctor before ramping up or ramping down on neurontin.

re baclofen. Did not work for me.

Give your pharmacist the name of all the drugs you are currently taking to see if there are negative reactions taking any in combination with another.

Well, this is what I have learned and my experience . . .

Baclofen did nothing for me and gave me that hung over feeling all the time. As others have stated, Baclofen doesn't work for nerve pain.

I have been on Neurontin for 8 years now and it works great for nerve pain. Because it slows down the nerve pulses, it does help with spasticity too - however, not like muscle relaxers, but it helps. When the spasms get real bad, I take Ativan (valium is too strong for me, Flexeril gives me a bad headache, and Soma doesn't do anything).

The week I tried Baclofen, I was also taking Neurontin so you can take both of them together.