Open Your Medicine Cabinet - Let's Talk Meds.
 

I know different meds have been brought up in various threads but I thought it would be good to just do a general thread as opposed to specific medications.

So, other than the DMDs, what meds do you take to help with your MS symptoms?

For me, I don't do well with lots of medicines and only take a few - actually 2. I take Celexa and Neurontin. Originally, Celexa was to help keep me calm with the pain. But since depression/anxiety are common in MSers, I'm sure it helps with that. I take Neurontin for nerve pain. For me, it has done wonders and I only get breakthrough pain every so often. I'm on a low dose and have been for years.

I have Ativan for when the spasms get bad but I fight taking it and try to work through the spasticity without it. I know, bad girl. However, the pain from the hug and spasticity in my legs is increasing so I think it's time I reconsider this and will be working with my neuro at my Nov. visit. Since I am an extreme light weight, Ativan usually does the job. It's a benzo, just as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, etc., but it doesn't knock me out like others do.

What do you take for pain, spasticity, etc.?

Hi ya Trish.:) Right now I just take LDN, Prozac and Aleve or Bayer Asprin for pain.
I also take a one a day, Tums(calcium) and D3.

However, I have tried a bunch of other Meds, over the past MS years...Avonex and Copaxone, Baclophen and Neurontin & Valium and Kobaxin...:) And several miscellanious herbs, vitamins, minerals and vita drinks..all flushed down the toilet.:rolleyes: :D

Amantadine 2x a day, Vesicare 2 x a dayand Vicotin as needed (maybe 1-2 a week.)

I take baclofen for spasms and I am trying MMJ for pain.:)

baclofen, celexa, ativan, betaserson, requip.

I have other meds that I take once in a while. I have Klonopin for nerve pain but it knocks me out. I keep it on hand just in case. I used to take Provigil daily when I was working, but not any more.

Klonopin - one at bedtime (.5 mg). I was just taking 1/2 (.25) as needed at bedtime and I was only prescribed 10 pills at a time. I was taking it almost every night. But my doctor increased it to a whole pill at bedtime the last time I saw her -- about a week ago. I told her I needed a refill and she changed the prescription. It is kind of weird because she did not even discuss it with me. I am not sure if she made a mistake or not. but I decided not to question it. I have noticed that the hug does not seem quite as bad. Nothing seems to knock me out. I take it plus ambien CR and still cannot sleep some nights.

Baclofen never helped me. Zanaflex made me sick. Neurontin seemed to help at first, but I stopped taking it when I reached 3600 mg a day and it still was not helping. Tapering off of neurontin was hard!!!!!!!

I take 1/2 of a 25 mg Toporol for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome that could either be caused by my MS or by my HypoKPP. 200mg of Tegretol three times a day for trigeminal neuralgia. 25 mg of Elavil at bedtime for the MS headache I've had since 1-31-07. and 200 mg of neurontin at bedtime for leg pain. But with the way things are going I will be adding more meds after my next appointment. I also take Vitamin D, Calcium and 25 mg of Spironolactone for the HypoKPP.

I take Cymbalta for depression, 1 mg of Klonopin in the am for tremors and anxiety, Lorcet for hip pain as needed, Zanaflex for spasticity as needed and 50 mg of Trazodone for sleep. The Trazodone isn't working so well anymore so my neuro prescribed Ambien CR but I haven't taken it yet.

I take:
Copaxone
Neurontin
Klonopin
Zanaflex
Elavil
Lortab
Vit D
Magnesium
Vit B12

Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Cesamet (Nabilone)

Both for pain as a result of damage from the MS.

I also take Vitamin D3 (1000 IU daily), a combo Magnesium/Calcium tablet twice daily (can't recall the units of each), a separate Magnesium pill once daily.

I also have Tylenol extra strength and Tylenol with codeine (Tylenol 1's .. which I'm able to get without prescription). I don't often take either. Just if I get a regular type headache. Otherwise OTC medications for headaches don't touch my MS neuralgia pains (Trigeminal Neuralgia included), nor my migraines. I don't often get a regular old headache, so don't take either one much at all.

I tried baclofen for spasticity but it didn't work at all...so the neuro put me on xanaflex capsules (tablets did nothing). They seem to do the trick most of the time.
Requip is my most important med besides the synthroid. I'd go crazy if I didn't have Requip...
I take lots of other stuff for arthritis and high cholesterol, and of course Copaxone. If it is working I'll never know. My neuro seldom orders MRIs. Must be why he's a darling with the insurance company:rolleyes:

I was given Cymbalta 3 weeks ago for anxiety and leg pain. It hasn't helped my leg pain. Cymbalta also makes me nausous at times, thirsty and constipated. Also take levoxyl for thyroid and have been off C for over 2 months now.

The only prescription medication I have is Klonopin. It's multi-pourpose, I use it for anxiety/panic attacks and sometimes for pain/spasticity. For the most part I use it only as needed.

I take quite a few vitamins/supplements.

Clonazepam for tremors, Synthroid for low Thyroid, HRT, and LDN for a great mood and less pain from the MS hug and burning feet.

Plus about two handfuls of vitamins/minerals- all individual ones so I can take my correct dosage. I weaned off everything else years ago.

I get so sick of medications....everytime I go to the neuro, they want to add a new med or increase the dosage. I feel if I refuse, I am being non compliant.

How much medication can one body take??

I forgot to mention that I take (live on) Imitrex for my migraines. Along with all of these;

Copaxone
Neurontin
Klonopin
Zanaflex
Elavil
Lortab
Vit D
Magnesium
Vit B12

Wowsers... that's quite a list of medications, and I can understand your concerns about 'how much can one take?'. That does seem like an awful lot of medication. Why can't there be 1 pill to handle everything from the Neurontin to the Lortab (those 5 in order of appearance)? Egads.

Do you feel that any or all of the above help? Were you prescribed through your GP, neurologist, pain specialist, etc?

Everyone's different, so there could be very valid reasons in your case to be on that much medication, or why your doctor(s) believe these to be helpful/necessary... I'm not a fan of medications, but I'm less a fan of pain, spasticity, depression, anxiety etc etc. :hug:

Have been DMD free since 2004 - took Avonex for almost three years. The only meds I currently take for MS issues are Provigil for fatigue and Cylcobenzaprine (Flexeril) for leg spasms. I also don't take them as prescribed but as I need them, otherwise I couldn't function.

I was hitting up the Cyclobenzaprine every night for a month due to a pulled back muscle. I slept through the night and felt better but couldn't figure out why I had gained 10 lbs. until I did some research on weight gain and Cyclobenzaprine. LOL That stopped overnight! :laugh: