My neuro mentioned these two drugs if I have no success with LYRICA for controlling pain. I have lots of problems with side efects, and have already tried the principal drugs everyone seems to use. I would appreciate hearing about both good and bad experiences. Thanks, Tom

Hello Tom, I have been taking Tegretol (3x a day) 200mg & Neurontin (3x a day) 300mg for about 6 months now. I haven't had any side effects with these drugs..... but my first neurologist wanted to keep increasing my neurontin everytime I went to see him. So I dropped him. Now my neurologist took me off those two drugs and put me on Lyrica along with Cymbalta. I could tell those drugs were working because now that I am being weened off the pain is coming back..... I just hope Lyrica starts to kick in. I have been taking the Lyrica now for a week. I increase the Lyrica by 50 each week until I get to 300. I am on 100mg right now..... 4 weeks to go. What pn do you have?

Thanks,
Michele

Hi Michele,

I have burning pain in my hands and feet that is aggravated by use, such as yard work or workout at the gym. My neuro calls it small fiber neuropathy, but the name is unimportant as pain control is uppermost in my mind. I'm on 600mg/day of LYRICA but unsure of how helpful it is. Tom

I know the name is unimportant when all you have is pain. Have you gone to a pain management specialist? They might be able to help you. How long have you been on the Lyrica. How long have you had the pn? I can not stand the burning pain either. I hope your able to find some relief.

Michele

Hello Michele,

I've had BAD pn for two and a half years, only mild before that for two years. I have a big problem with side effects from meds that work a little for me to control the burning. I'm still on a quest for something to help that I can tolerate. BTW, where in Cow Country are you from? I live in Scottsdale, AZ which is also sometimes cow country when we have the rodeo here. But the dairy farms have slowly disappeared to be replaced with tract homes. Tom

with burning as the primary symptom should try Thiamine or Benfotiamine
supplements for a month.

The thiamine needs to be 200mg to 300mg at least a day in divided doses.
The Benfotiamine (which is a special thiamine product), in 150 to 300mg daily.

Benfotiamine just came down in price and is now affordable, but still more expensive than plain thiamine which is about $5.00/month.

People who have errors in dehydrogenase enzymes get burning easily. Especially if certain foods are eaten, or certain drugs. (Flagyl is an example)
High carbohydrate intake requires more thiamine, and any alcohol consumption also needs it.

Burning can also be stimulated by MSG food additive, so check your labels and be careful of soups/stews, chinese food in restaurants. Accent food enhancer is MSG and added to alot foods we eat. The glutamate is very neuro-stimulatory.

I just switched to Benfotiamine recently to replace my thiamine and am very happy with it:

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=42

Benfotiamine has been used in Europe for diabetic neuropathies, with some success. A month's supply used to cost over $60 a month and was hard to find, now those days are gone!

Tallahassee, Florida, we don't have a lot of cows, but I did live in Wisconsin for a short time and wanted to decorate my house with cows........... although they had to be cute cows, no ugly ones. I guess I am prejudice against cows. LOL

Michele