Neuropathy and Spiriva
 

My PN pain has been getting worse since early this month. I dont know what is causing or at least exacerbating it. I am taking teh same supplements since I my PN started and and new medications since September 2012. The only new medicine that I can t hink of is Spiriva which I started last December.

I read that Spiriva, as one of its uncommon side effects is neuropathy. However, my doctor does not believe it to be so....

I wonder if those who are using Spiriva has noticed exacerbation of their PN symptoms?

I do not take it but I read one of the possible side effects is muscle pain.

I haven't been around much but happened to see this. I was really hoping this wouldn't happen to you. I'm afraid it is the Spiriva and I don't know how you will convince your doctor.

You can try this forum, it is a free 'Ask A Doctor' one associated with Jewish National Hospital which has COPD experts. I asked there and the doctor said that the meds could well be causing my symptoms. There is a different doctor in the COPD Forum now and I don't know how he will respond but you can try. If he says it is possible print it out and take it to your doctor. Also ask if you can try taking it every other day or Mon-Wed-fFi or something. I have done that and it helps, the stuff lasts so long you can still breathe fine. You might get a little rebound constriction when you first start though. There are people whose doctors have suggested that to deal with heart rate issues from the med.

Are you taking Advair? Do you know your FEV1 % or did they stage your COPD? Why did they put you on Spiriva?

Spiriva does cause the pain, it seems to make the steroid cause pain too. I have dealt with it by not taking so much but I don't take Advair and I don't know if I have done some damage to my lungs with not enough bronchodialators. Doctors just don't seem to care as long as you are breathing. I don't THINK Spiriva is doing any further nerve damage, I think it just makes it hurt worse. It works on something called Muscaric receptors in the lung and I read there are the same receptors in the central nervous system that modulate pain. Are you on Neurontin now? I've wondered how well it would work on that pain.

This makes me so mad, I hope you can figure something out.

judi :mad:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chroni...COPD/show/1011

You will have to register, be sure you get the' Ask A Doctor' forum and not the support one, they have 2 for COPD.

Thank you for your reply.

I am not taking Advair. I cannot take anything with steroids because of the Mycobacterium Avium (MAC) medications I am on. My FEV1 is 72% (the same pre and post medication - no change in the number). The doctor diagnosed me with a mixed of COPD and Restrictive Lung Disease. I am on 600mg 3x a day gabapentin.

What is your lung diagnosis?

I will open the link...thank you.

I am not absolutley sure Spiriva itself would cause pain without a steroid, for me it seems to intensify the pain of the side effects of the steroid.

Is it helping you breathe? As you probably know you have pretty mild COPD but I don't know anything about the progression and complications of MAC. I don't think inhalers do much for restrictive disease.

Were you getting sick and having flare ups or did they just give it to you because you have a little COPD? You will really have to try to balance the long term potential positive effect on your respiratory problems with the neuropathy pain. I hope you get it figured out.

judi