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

Nausea
 

Thanks Desi!
I am trying the peppermint as I am typing this but I am cheating and I am not sure if it will work. See, I am using CHOCOLATE coated peppermint! You know, like York Peppermint Patties, Andes Mints, Yummies like that. Unfor tunately it`s the wrong time of year for candy canes and I don`t like those peppermint hard candies. I`m not real big on flavored teas either. I`m really a Lipton girl. Maybe I`m too picky. At this point, do I want things to taste good and not help the nausea, or have things I don`t care for and lessen the nausea? I AM GOOFY! Well, I hope these chocolate "guys" work. We will see. Now the Phenegran. Does it make you sleepy? I take alot of other stuff besides the Topamax that makes you sleepy, (you probably know) and I don`t think if I put my truck on "auto pilot" it will prevent me from hitting a tree if I fall asleep. Well, just wondering. Thanks Desi so much for your Ideas. I really appreciate them. One more thing, How in the heck would you squeeze a pear to get the juice out?

Phennagran, yes it is a script
 

Hi Franny, it is a script. Here is how I use mine, since it does cause drowziness I bought a pill cutter, I cut mine in to 1/4 and take it that was before or after a meal. Depended on the meal and how nauses I am I take the addtional quater after the meal if I need. It .. good luck toyou. This is a very effective nausea pill( they ofter want to give Zoloft. how ever they only give 12 of these at a time in a script so that is why I take phennegran instead, that would never be enough(zolfot) for me. CZ

Could you ask your doc if you can take the med that makes you ill at a different time like with dinner? I have been very nausea the past few days and have been drinking gingeral and that is helping.Hope you feel better

Nausea
 

Thank you so much! I do have a pill cutter and I know what pill to say NO to if he suggests it.(Zoloft) I hope I am not misleading when I am saying nausea. I am not actually getting sick, like in, well hangin ~ on to the white pretty round chair I have in my bathroom and actually getting sick, but I walk around a good part of the day feeling yucky in my tummy. It doesn`t necessarily happen after a meal. I take 6 sometimes 7 pills in the morning(they have to be taken then) and one of those have to be taken on an empty stomach. Not too great taking so many of those for breakfast on an emptystomach! I am trying the ginger ale and peppermints that the wonderful, caring people here have suggested and when I see the DR. in a couple of weeks, I will ask about the Phennegran. I am writing down how YOU take it. I think starting with a quarter of a pill to see what happens is a great suggestion.
Thanks for caring! I appreciate it more than you will ever know!

Nausea
 

[QUOTE=daniella;341934]Could you ask your doc if you can take the med that makes you ill at a different time like with dinner? I have been very nausea the past few days and have been drinking gingeral and that is helping.Hope you feel better[/Q

daniella,

(Gosh, that name is so pretty!) I might try to figure out how I can do that. I have to take two a day. One in the AM and one at bedtime so it could be tricky. I am also trying the gingerale thing and also someone suggested peppermints. (I only like the chocolate covered kind though and I don`t know if they count). The mints and the gingerale seem to help a little. Thanks for the idea of changing the time I take the pills though. I really appreciate you taking the time to give me some ideas. Since we are all in this together it is so comforting to know someone may be able to help and relate to what you are going through.
Thanks so much!

Thanks actually my name is Gina. I don't know why I didn't use my real name but if I ever had a girl I would of named her Daniella. This would be after my gram. I think you are right the support and guidence is so helpful from others that are in similar situations like it helps to continue to fight. I have been having a ruff stomach lately which usually happens with my leg flare up. Just another thing to add to the issue is overwhelming so I hear you. Just a side not overall diet and food choices I think really impact me as well. So you may want to look at your daily food choices. Bland may be your best friend a long with salty. Keep those saltine crackers on hand. I just stocked up on some easier to eat on the stomach foods. Hang in there.

Nausea
 

Hi Desi,
Well got ahold of my doc and Phenegran was a NO GO! That Butthole! he said I had to get it from my primary care Dr. This pain management just want to do procedures, get your meds right, then let your primary Dr. do your meds after that. My primary Dr. REFUSES to prescribe any narcotics. He tells me he wants to give me a medication to go off of it. He also said he knows ALL about RSD and has helped 4 people. When I said will you help me ? he called 2 Dr`s, one he said wanted to try something but it would hurt like hell, and the other is another pain specialist an hour away! This guy is wack! Now my pain Dr. wants me to ask him to prescribe Phenagran or whatever it is! Right! I looked in the phone book (why not?) and found another pain specialist not too far from me and SHE will stick with you and write prescriptions every month as needed I was told. (maybe she will know something about RSD!) I had to get a referal from my primary Dr. of course! My pain management nurse told me he can`t refuse to do it. I have to wait until October to get in but I will and my current pain Dr. will keep me covered until I get in to see LUCKY DR. NUMBER SEVEN! Until then I think I will tart weaning myself off of this Topamax. I can`t stand the nausea anymore!
Hey Desi! Have a really great day and smile it looks good on you!

Hey Franny-
I'm on Synthroid and Topamax too, and I take my Synthroid first thing in the morning on an empty tummy and then I eat a little breakfast (usually cereal with milk! to protect the tummy!) and THEN I take my other meds. Although, Topamax has never affected my stomach, so are you sure that that's what's doing it? Not to second guess you or anything, but could it be a bug or something? I randomly got nauseous and threw up for a month once. And no- wasn't pregnant! Silly doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, and then a year later when my thyroid hit rock bottom they decided that that was when it originally quit working. So have your thyroid levels checked too. They can really effect your digestion because they control your metabolism. Makes sense when you put it together, huh? Sucks when it takes them a year though! Grrr. So before you start on a Powerade only diet, have that checked out too. And guess what is one of the best things ever? Pepto comes in mint flavored chewable tablets. They're fabulous! You can keep them in your purse! And then, a heat pad on the tummy is a wonderful thing too. Try that. Peppermint tea and a heat pad is heaven when you feel like your tummy is revolting against you. Hope this helps!
Lynn
:hug:

Nausea
 

Hi Lynn!
Thanks for your ideas! Funny you should mention thyroid but I am currently taking medication for low thyroid and it has to be taken on an empty stomach. It could be out of wack though. Just like I am! I will have this checked out when I see my "wonderful, know-it-all" primary care Dr. who discovered the low thyroid. At first he said I was pre- diabetic. I see him in a couple of weeks. Thanks for that suggestion! I don`t think it`s been checked since I have been on this medication. I think the nausea is from the Topamax because it started when I began taking taking it and it is a very common side effect. For some, it goes away. It`s been well over a month and it hasn`t, plus, I have been a raving bitc_! since I have been on this stuff. I think more than usual. I bit my 88 year old mother`s head off the other day when she told me she know`s how I feel! (like anyone knows beside those experiencing this crap!) Guess I better call her. My poor husband, well, last weekend I almost made him a woman! (If you know what I mean!) LOL! Guess I will see if it`s just me or the Topamax when it gets out of my system. I`m sick of being nauseous 24/7. Thanks for your help Lynn! Have a great day! You deserve it!

Nausea
 

Hey Gina! That name is beautiful too! (Italian?)
There is a diet especially for RSD. I read it on the website rsdhope.org. It was written by a Dr. Hooshmad or something like that! (I probably murdered his name!) I have been meaning to print it out. You know it might help! He also has a book out but it is REALLY expensive! I keep looking on E-Bay hoping to get it there at a better price. There is so little information on paper for us out there! I would love to have a reference book and be able to carry it around with me! That way when my family or friends say, "what did you say you have? I have never heard of that!" Well no shi_! I didn`t either until I got it! I would just hand them the book! The Dr. who told me I had it (took off a cast and that`s when it hit!)handed me one piece of paper and said"go home and look it up on the computer." I was in so much pain in his office, I couldn`t talk and left in a wheelchair. That was the best information he could give me about RSD? Ridiculous! That`s all I remember. Anyway, Shoot I am babbling! Geez the medication makes me do that! I guess I do it on the computer too! SORRY.
Crap, now I forgot what we were discussing! Oh yeah, diet. Thank you soooo much Gina for reminding me that diet does play a role. Have a beautiful day!!