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!

'STICKIES' is post #13, full of the different kinds of meds used to treat various PN pains....http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177-2.html
I am not sure if this will take you there, but...going thru the stickies might help you learn about what mite or mite not work for you.
I myself tried neurontin, topamax and then keppra...the last was my 'charm'. Tho I don't think it's for everyone. Lyrica hadn't been 'out' when I went onto the Keppra, so I've no experiences with that. Recently I titrated [tapered off] of the keppra for other medical reasons and really have found that my 'pains' are no different from when I was on it! Strange that.
As for any medication you go on? I would ask for 'samples' try them and see if something nasty happens rite away [This HAS happened to me so I urge anyone to try this route]. I find that I've saved my $ and the insurance $ by doing the try, before buy route.
Also, you should be very aware and cautious about any other meds you take for other issues plus whatever you take for the PN. I really suggest that you go and read all, I mean ALL the fine print regarding the 'prescribing information' for EACH medication. That is the only way you can work to be safe for your treatments. IF you have any questions about any meds? Call their 800 numbers and well, be prepared to first wait on hold about 5-10 minutes then answer a bunch of questions about each med you are on etc. This may sound invasive in ways, but at the same time, these drug co's really don't know you and what's going on w/you...they DO want to help, inform you and reassure you ...at the same time alert you to possible problems with any issues of their med and Meds A, B or C. Best to be safe than sorry is my motto.
My own example was the prescribing of Effexor for s/e's from another med. Reading up on it? I decided NO WAY am I taking this given all else that I'm on and have to deal with. It was a smart move in retrospect....for me. I never filled the script, nor took any of the samples.
Hang in there, lots of finding what will work for YOU is thru trial and error. The neuro/PN sciences aren't that precise and aren't that astute in terms of what you mite need. So, please hang in there and know there are options!
Hugs and all! - j

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

Thanks guys, for the info which I printed off for referral. I had in my current info only some of the drugs and supplements found there. We must always keep abreast of what's out there for us. Best wishes, Tom