Cyclelops, I am sure, it's safe... wait a minute, here comes the Luna!!! Did you take Lunesta?

I don't understand why the female cats are so bitc.y. We had males years ago and they did not seem to fight at all. Every time I turn around, I hear HAAAAAA! Constant hissing. The little orphan gets it, by far, the worse. They get up on their hind legs and start boxing at each other. Ginger is the alpha, she can be downright mean to the others and she is large.

Mrs. D. Do you have females or a mix?

I had a cat at one time we called her mean molly. I had 5 at one time! Regular cat lady. We don't have any now...but we have 3 dogs. Hubby is very allergic to cats. I think it depends on the cat's personality...some are sweet, some are just plain ornery.

Wow! You are a cat lady! Such perfect creatures, even if they are ornery like Mean Molly and Ginger...

I have 2 dogs, no cats. Sorry.
I'm on Gabbapentin for the pain, and I can tell when I've missed a dose.
It's not 100% effective for me.
My Dr suggested Magnesium, so I'm up to 500mg of that, and I can tell the muscle pain isn't as bad, but it's still there.
Does nothing for the weakness, but the pain relief is wonderful.
At night things seem to get worse though, so I use Kaluha with some diet dr pepper to get rid of that, before I go to bed...It's not for everyone.

Pretty far upthread someone (I think mrsD) mentioned Lunesta vs Ambien. I have no experience with Lunesta, but I take Ambien CR every night, and have for about six months. It is the only non-narcotic I've taken that completely eliminates the pain, even when I'm awake. Sometimes I take it early, then fight to stay awake for a couple of hours just so I can experience what it feels like not to be in any pain.

I wonder if this drug that Bob asked about, which someone said is really Lunesta under another name, has a similar effect. Anyway, whatever it is in Ambien that gives me so much relief, I wish it could be identified and isolated (if that's possible) so I could take it in the daytime.

I take ambien and have noticed that is does indeed help pain. I find though, that I get a weird amnesia if I take it too early.

Mere

Ambien affects consciousness is some way not understood yet.

In fact it can bring people OUT of a coma, for example! This has been done already. So research is being done on it, I think.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/sto...2154940&page=1

It is problably disconnecting your perception of the pain. This is what the antidepressants are thought to be doing, distancing your attention away from the pain signals.

Yep, Mere, it does cause amnesia, but as far as I've noticed it only makes me forget things that happen from the time I take it to the next morning. I still remember things that happen during the day just fine. So I just watch TV during the time I'm "under the influence"...that way when rerun season starts, it won't bother me a bit!

There you go, LOL! That is interesting. Perhaps your neurologist would be sympathetic and give the okay for you to try on a regular basis.

Sometimes, a few side effects are okay if it works so well for your pain. Hey, we all deserve to have pain relief...

Very interesting indeed!

I am curious to know what your neurologist says.

Mere

In that while I'm always in pain of some sort? I'm no longer medicated for it on a long or regular term basis. I'd given up on the anti-seizures only because they stopped working at a certain point. Now only take tramadol for extreme occasions, and even then it only takes about 10% off the top.
Luckily, my own constitution seems to fall asleep and stay asleep thruout it all, except when I was on Neurontin [but, that was only the first year].
Warm Milk and occasionally actually going into dream/sleep mode is truly the bestest cure for much!
Do not EVER tho! STOP one of these meds cold turkey! And, DO the TAPERING DOWN on a MONDAY! So you can get hold of the neuro later on in the week....Cannot stress this enuf. Safety first as these meds can be and are powerful treatments. Besides? Think of it this way...better to go to the ER on a Thursday nite AND get your doc on call..than the weekend?
I am looking for a single purr-box these days, but am waiting for that 'box' to choose me. It happens and I'm expecting this soon.
Hugs and hope to all! 's - j