Medication and Nausea
 

Hi, I wonder if anyone has any ideas on what to do for the nausea I have been experiencing. (I may have spelled that wrong!) Well, I was on Elavil and Neurontin and had to go off both because of the side effects, so we decided to try Topamax. So far it`s okay, pain is back some but the biggest problem is the nausea. When I eat I really get it. The thought of Pepto Bismol makes me want to puke! Why add to the situation? Besides, could someone tell them to please change that color! Geez, it is blinding! Anyway, anybody got any ideas for some good old natural "home" remedies? I hate to go off this medication because when I was on the other two I was getting pretty, well how should I say this? large? I am only 5' 2" so I can`t carry too much weight. Since taking the Topamax I have lost some weight. (Probably because eating makes me sick afterwards so I don`t eat much.) But I really don`t think that is it. From what I have read EVERYBODY gains weight on Neurontin. Usually Lots and I know why! When I was on it I ate a cake, a WHOLE two layered cake, by myself in two days! Oh boy, here I go again, babbling!On the computer no less, which I have a habit of doing after I take my medications. SORRY! Can anybody please help me? (not with the babbling) there is NO cure for that! but the nausea would surely be appreciated.
Thank you so much and I want you to know I care about all of you!
I hope I can be of help to you sometime.

I feel nauseous a whole lot. Peppermint works and ginger. I stock up on candy canes every year so I don't run out and I'm the only person, possibly in the world, that I know has candy canes all year long! ROFL Regular peppermint candy works too. Ginger ale is always a good thing. If you like tea then peppermint tea works as well. Don't eat any big meals, eat small snacks and meals all day. If you feel really crappy then don't eat and suck on peppermints! LOL

As for drug remedies. If it's really bad, then you may want to tell your doc about how nauseous you are. I can only think of one med for it right now, phenegran(sp?). I think there are a couple of others. I know others who have to take them because their meds just make them feel so bad they wouldn't be able to eat at all if it weren't for the drug to counteract it.

Hugs,

Karen

Franny,

I don't have RSD but do have spinal disorders/nerve damage. Anyway, prior to any surgeries (fusions) I was on Neurontin and other meds...too many to mention. I could never figure out why I was nauseated ALL the time and was taking Zantac for awhile to combat it. Eventually, all of this drove me to see a Gastro doc who did an upper and lower endoscopy. That was in 2005 and the diagnosis was Gastritis and GERD and as he said...from the meds!

I took Nexium for the past 3 years and just recently was able to stop it...everything has healed up (just had another upper endoscopy done). He also had me try (prior to ending the Nexium) Zeregid and Align. Align is a probiotic which helped a great deal as well. It never hurts to add a probiotic.

Anyway, no more nausea and the meds I take now are Vicodin and Klonopin...very low doses and they don't bother my stomach at all.

But getting back to the nausea. You really want to protect your stomach if the meds are causing it every day. I know you want to go a natural route but Ginger and things of that nature didn't help me much...I was trying natural things too. But evidently my case was a bit more severe with having Gastritis and GERD both.

Okay, more recently my one PM and I have 2, wanted me to try Zofran instead IF the nausea came back (it hasn't yet). Zofran doesn't have the SE's that Phenergan does. She also said Phenergan was too sedating to take every day and it is. But it does work!! Word of warning though...Zofran is terribly expensive. I went ahead and filled the script should I need it. I just haven't had to take any yet. I was told however, that if I went through my insurance (BC/BS) mail order program, it would only cost $10 a month. So that is something I need to keep in mind.

Anyway, should your nausea worsen with time and becomes an every day thing I would definitely see a Gastro doc. I think I put it off too long just thinking it was the meds themselves making me feel nauseated...didn't know I was coming close to having an ulcer or maybe even several. I am just glad I caught it in time before it got too far along. As the other poster said, let your doctor know; perhaps he can put you on something to help protect your stomach should you need it.

Karen,
Thank you so much for your ideas. I certainly will give them a shot! The smaller meals make sense and maybe peppermint will make a difference. I am trying Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale and it has helped some. I just am afraid to eat because I know what is going to follow! I really appreciate your help! Merry Christmas! Candy canes it is!

Nausea and Meds
 

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry to hear you have been through so much! I definitely will keep in mind what you have said. I am pretty sure it is the medication because nausea is a very common side effect. I have even checked other websites and other people are having the same problem. I hate to try another medication because I have tried SO MANY! Other than the nausea I don`t have any other serious side effects like I have had with other medications. This began when I started taking this particular medication. I have also read sometimes this side effect may go away with time. The medication is Topamax. (I am not sure if I mentioned that)
Taking a half of a xnax helps and I read you can take that for the nausea but I don`t want to be tired or sleep all the time. My dogs are getting as lazy as I am! (they follow me into the bathroom!) Plus I hate taking anymore medications if I don`t have to. With over the counter pills , and the prescriptions, I have to take 17 pills a day. They`re sometimes hard to get down. I take more pills than my 88 year old Mother! Anyway, I REALLY appreciate you taking the time for answering my question and giving me such good and important information. I will definitely inform my doctor if it continues.

Not sure if it would help with those meds but when I was on a med I can't remember which one it was in the blur of last year and so many but the doc told me to drink milk to coat my stomach. I had always thought not too with some meds so you may want to ask. Also I took my meds after a full meal.Some was just adjusting because when I was on Cymbalta I took it with dinner and for a few weeks thought I would throw up but it past. Good luck. Oh random thought I know when my pain gets high I get nauseas and it is not med related.Feel better

Nausea meds
 

Franny, I hate to recommend yet another med, but I have terrible nausea I have full body rsd, I take phennagran(sp?) as needed. it does cause severe drowsiness but without it I can not keep a meal down. I also belivie it helps with pain. Good luck.CZ

Nausea
 

Thank you for your ideas! I really appreciate your time to help me. Unfortunately I Hate milk and I have to take a pill for low thyroid at the same time as the Topamax (which is the one making me nauseous) and it has to be taken on an empty stomach. Caught between a rock and a hard place huh? Thanks for the suggestion though! I just thought of something. I LOVE chocolate milk. I will give that a try! Hey, it`s milk right? I wonder if that would still be considered an empty stomach? Well, I`m not "goofy for nothin`! Guess I`ll have to figure that one out! Thanks again and God bless.

Nausea
 

Hi
Thanks so much for your ideas! Can you please tell me if Phennagran is a prescription medication? I will be going to see my Dr. in a couple of weeks and I can ask him if he might prescribe it if needed. Hey, what`s another pill when you take TONS already! Geez, who even needs to eat when you take enough to feed three countries? (Just kidding!) I hope you don`t think I am making light of this pain or this rotten disease we are going through, I just try to find some humor in this mess, it gets me through the day sometimes. I read this little saying somewhere and it really made sense:
"Don`t count the days,
Let the days count."
Hope your day is a little brighter. Thanks again and God bless. I will thinking of ALL of you and your kindness.
Franny