I just had this med added to my list for my worsening PN. I am to take 150mg 2 x's/day. (I am also on Topamax 100mg 4 x's/day) Does anyone have any experience with it?

http://millercenter.uchicago.edu/lea...xiletine.shtml

I find THIS part quite interesting: "Mexiletine reduces pain by adhering to peripheral nerves and reducing pain signals carried from the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system and brain. Over time, as mexiletine bonds to the peripheral nerves, the feeling of pain is diminished."

THIS is the part that bothers me: "was originally approved to treat irregular heartbeats." I did have to have an ECG, but...

Anyone?
Thanks,
Jan

This drug is not commonly used... There were a few posts a very long
time ago on our old BT board back in 2000 I think...

The side effect profile is very poor (common) and since the antiarrthymic
value of this drug is low, it is just not used much anymore.

It is sort of a last resort thing, I think.
This is a good description of this drug:
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed...fo.cfm?id=1642

Mostly GI disturbance and CNS effects are predominate.

This is a study that is fairly recent:
from http://www.dejerine-sottas.com/archi...ment/index.php

All of these agents that affect heart rhythm can impact even a normal patient. Hence they are not used frequently. You will need to be monitored carefully, while on this drug. Also the GI effects can be huge..usually they are the reason people discontinue it.

And a warning for people with ocular issues (vision)
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/lin...1.01027.x/abs/

Most drug stores do not carry this as a regular item..you might have to have it special ordered...so a delay may occur in receiving it.

I tried searching the old board for you, but I don't get any hits on this drug.
It was a LONG TIME ago that I saw someone with PN posting about it.

Is this a result of your recent visit to Mayo?

Thanks for all the good info mrsd....you are a Godsend! I hope you know how much we appreciate all you do for us!

Yeah, my Neuro wants me to try a low dose of Mexiletine. We discussed the side effects, but she thinks it's worth the shot. We are kinda running out of options....

You were right about my Pharmacy not stocking it. I will get it tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see how I tolerate it. Thanks again.
Hugs,
Jan

Please keep us posted about how you are doing...

And report ANY GI problems ASAP to your doctor, before they turn into
some awful erosive eosphagial thing. Okay?

Shall do--thanks!
Hugs,
Jan

You know, depending on the level of pain management you've been getting, this is either a very thoughtful and creative choice, or off the wall.

I don't know what you've been on for your pain, and what has helped, but I'd hope that all the routine meds have been tried: The anti-epileptics, anti-depressants (remember, these stabilize nerves and are not only active in the one diagnosis they were first approved for), opioids, and maybe Rebuilder, TENS and the like. I believe there's a sticky here with a pretty complete list of what's being used for neuropathic pain these days.

Some doctors are excellent with sticking with us, and working their way through the menu of drugs, but some are not. If you've a good one, and s/he has been working methodically, then I'd say you've got someone who cares, and is willing to be creative about what to use.

Are you doing all the non-drug things that various people here recommend? From supplements to exercise (yoga, t'ai chi, meditation, stress reduction, etc). They, too, are an integral part of pain management.

Right now, the newest ingredient on my list is Feldenkrais therapy. It's geared at finding ways of moving which reduce pain, and it is helpful.

Keep us posted on how it works, promise?

This med is an oral version of lidocaine, it was used more widely in the past I believe, but if the side effects are tolerated can be very effective. I see neurologist Dr Robt Schwartzman from Drexel University in Philly, he is a leading researcher into RSD and other neuropathic disorders. I have full-body RSD due to a vaccine reaction, and one treatment he tried to put my RSD into remission was an in-patient IV-lidocaine infusion. I wasn't able to tolerate it; as the dose was slowly increased I became nauseous and the room started spinning. Despite pausing, then restarting from a lower dose, I wasn't able to continue.

I was sent home, though, with an RX for mexiletine, which I took for several months until starting a different treatment involving an even stronger med with a higher side-effect profile. I didn't suffer any bad results from either treatments or from the mexiletine. I think I got some benefit from it, but at the time my pain was just raging, so it seemed that nothing really touched it.
My Drs at home were not familiar with it's use, either, and may not have increased it to the desired dose for effectiveness, a drawback to being treated by Drs from away unfortunately.

I hope you see good results with it, and no side effects. Because of the treatments I've had, I am assured my heart is in VERY good shape, at least that's one body part that I can rest easy about!

beth

LizaJane~
I went through the list in the sticky again--I remember reading it when it was posted--very good information.

My Neuro and I have experimented at length with many meds, as most everyone has. I am on what I can tolerate, what seems to help, and what doesn't interfere with my other meds.

I am on no Narcotics for pain; Mayo is Narcotic-phobic. I am on Tramadol.

I've tried the "normal" non-drug things: physical therapy, tens and supplements. Mrsd & heyjoe helped me with supplements last year, so I know I'm good to go there.

The other things you mention I have not tried. I live in a very rural area where the closest instructors would be in the metropolitan area, which is over 2 hours away. I don't drive there because people drive like they're nuts. (Sorry people whom live there--I know, you think it's people like ME that do...) Hey, I like our two stop lights!

I will keep you posted. My pharmacy will have my med in later this afternoon.

Beth~
Thank you for your first hand experience with the med. It's comforting to know someone has taken the drug and has gotten some relief from it.

I guess I'm kinda excited about it because of reading how it attaches to the nerve and acts as lidocaine. That makes sense to me that it would help take care of pain, but, we'll see.

Thanks again!
Hugs,
Jan

Jan,

Do you remember FiberoWendy from the chronic pain forum? If I remember correctly, she took (or might still take) Mexiletine for pain/fibromyalgia.

She posted in the fibromyalgia forum here recently.... so she may be able to shre some personal experience.

Take care,
Liz

Thanks Liz, I'll look her up.
HUgs,
Jan