I'm on zanaflex and diclofenac (which is worthless) for a back problem
that should be firmly diagnosed by an MRI I just went through.

I'm going to approach my doctor about the pain management, and to be
honest, the zanaflex makes me loopier than any opiate I've ever had in
the past (through lortab, percocet, and lorcet).

Should I say "doc, I know you have some concern about giving me an
opiate [I understand why, I had a problem with xanax, but that's done
and over with], but quite honestly, the zanaflex messes with my head
more than anything else, and this combination simply isn't working"?

Thank you for your advice

Hi deimos,
Very sorry to hear of your chronic pain condition. Just becasue you
have had a "problem," in the past is not a legitimate reason to refuse
to prescribe opiates. The %% of pain patients that become addicted is
miniscule, maybe 1-2%% of the population of CPP's. There is a alot of
confusion in this country about addiction which means a person is
using drugs in a negative or destructive manner, and dependence.
Dependence is when you need the pain meds to have an improved quality
of life, which is what pain medicine should be about. Many pain
patients need opiates for life, and of course their bodies will become
dependent on them, your body needs them. And over time your dosage
will need to be adjusted. Most docs under-prescribe due to the illegal
war on drugs, which has become a witch...

Dear Deimos,

I don't know if I'd approach it on the basis of an opiate prescription.
Especially if there was a previous issue with a medication. Nothing like
that is ever over and done with. It might just be better...

The problem is that Neurontin IS seen as a pain med on top of being an
anti-seizure med. I think it helps a lot of people too. It was horrible
for me but a study with an 'n' of one isn't very useful. Lyrica, very
similar to Neurontin but changed a little to keep the patent alive, has
an indicated use of fibro. It HAS to help some people with fibro
otherwise the FDA wouldn't let the maker market it that way, no matter
how anti-FDA anybody is here...

There really isn't any harm in giving something a try, unless you have
tried it in the past or had a reaction to a very similar drug.

Debs

OldGoat wrote:

Dear Trisha,

Did the FDA ok Neurontiin for pain or is it still an off label use for the
drug? I know they approved Lyceria for use with Fibro patients, but I
wasn't aware they actually approved the use of Neurontin...

That's an idiot Dr. Neuropathy isn't arthritis.

Debs

OldGoat wrote:

On Jun 10, 5:01 pm, "OldGoat" ERdocsuckYahoo.com> wrote:

Actually, the primary indication for the use of Neurontin is for nerve
pain after having a bout of shingles or other types of herpes.

The use of the drug in cases of seizure problems is as an adjunct, or
in addition to other drugs designed specifically for epilepsy or
seizure disorder.

Interesting, the things we find out when we become guinea pigs.....

Trisha in MO

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:01:24 GMT, "OldGoat" ERdocsuckYahoo.com> wrote:

I trust OG will graciously forgive me for butting in ...

To my knowledge, Neurontin (Gabapentin) is still generally off-label
for pain.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabapentin:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabapentin was originally approved in the U.S. by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 1994 for use as an adjunctive medication to
control partial seizures (effective when added to other antiseizure
drugs). In 2002, an indication was added for treating postherpetic
neuralgia (neuropathic pain following shingles, other painful
neuropathies, and nerve related pain).[2]

Gabapentin has been found to be effective in prevention of frequent
migraine headaches,[3] neuropathic pain[4] and nystagmus,[5] and is
prescribed off-label (that is, without formal regulatory agreement)
for these conditions

Hi there Deimos,
I'm not surprised the zanaflex makes u loopy...it's a Muscle
Relaxant. And the xanax is an anti-anxiety. Neither are opiods.
Tho I'm not a med. professional in any way, I've been a cpp for ages &
tried just about everything in the book & some not! U can look up
your meds here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601121.html
u can see how others have reacted to them here:
http://www.askapatient.com/research/referrals.htm
There are other places to look them up but I like these.
I've found that w/opiods I get better pain relief w/fewer side effects
tho that's certainly not true for everyone of course! Most get
sleepy & constipated but I'd rather be that & deal w/those than be in
pain!!! Sounds like the doc u have is just being opiodphobic.
Kindly,
...

Hey Puddin !

Good to see ya, stranger. You know you're welcome, even encouraged, to jump
in on any of my posts, anytime.
I hope all's going well and your absence has been from doing something fun
and not from hurtin'.

Keep in touch--og

"Puddin' Man" gmail.com> wrote in message
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