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Pegleg84

Active member
Joined
Mar 8, 2017
Messages
82
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
05/2017
Country
CA
State
ON
Hi all,

Since I was diagnosed (and before), I've probably tried every OTC drug I can think of to help with my pain, and am amassing a real pile of useless drugs. The Cymbalta helps my pain most of the time, but when it's bad it's bad, and nothing else I've tried will help.

My counter is starting to look like a drug store, and most of it is useless:
- Ibuprophen (which used to be my go to. I had just bought a big bottle)
- Naxoprene (prescribed before my diagnosis. Anti-Inflamatories = useless)
- Acetaminophen (works on headaches, nada for the fibro pain)
- Tylenol 1 (with 8mg codein). We can get this over the counter in Canada, but it's still useless!
- methocarbamol (with Acetaminophen), helps eeever so slightly, but really, useless.

The only other thing I've taken that actually helped my pain was percocet, and I only took 1/2 of one at once. It knocked me out, but I would usually wake up with no pain. My Dr, understandably, doesn't want to prescribe opioids, but I might have to convince her after a while because nothing else has worked!

So, what's in your useless drug pile?
 
I had to chuckle as my hubby has asked me repeatably to just throw out the ones that I don't take but I always think there may be a day I need them or I'll try them again. I think the worst for me was lyrics as it took 3 days to realize I couldn't take it. the cost I think was like 250. With insurance so throwing it away just felt like putting money in the trash can!
Anyway, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that does this.
 
Hi,

I do the same thing.They are on my counter with the empty bottles in case I forget I have refills.Percocet worked good for me too, but you have to keep increasing more to get the same effect.
When my bottles build up ,I'll try to go thru them.My husband gets annoyed at the empty bottles too lol.



Sagey



Sagey
 
You have to get paracetamol with codeine with a prescription where I live (though almost all other meds are OTC - even antidepressants and viagra!) and somehow, even then, most pharmacies told me they don't have it in their stock due to the 'addictive' factor codeine (?!?)....but the few times I did manage to find it, it did nothing for me either. Nothing!

Mine also include - though I don't know whether they are OTC drugs any where else;

- diclofenac - does NOTHING for me. I have sat next to many older women in GP waiting rooms and they all swear by it (and its patches). Is it placebo, or is it simply the fibro factor?

- flurbiprofen - again nothing and almost everyone talks about how it takes away pain within 15 minutes. I tried it for different pains, incl. period pain, nothing.

- paracetamol - it helps a bit. I take it in combination with tramadol. I also noticed how the suppository form works much better (have to get that overseas)
 
Don't have a big pile just yet, but what I do take seems useless. I currently take anti-depressants, but other than helping with my mood, it does little for the pain. I also take LDN, low dose naltrexone. I have upped my dose twice already, and my gp is convinced it takes away the symptons, but it hasn't quite done that for me. I have experienced less painfor a while, but that might just be because I had less severe pain at the time.
 
@DiamondDog,

Why are you on Naltrexone? This drug is an opioid antagonist. It's indications is treatment of narcotic and/or alcohol addiction. It does not provide pain relief. Very odd you GP has told you otherwise???:confused:
 
Honestly, I have no idea. He said he had other patients who have had less symptoms or no symptoms at all. It has done nothing for me yet other than already messing up my bad sleep schedule.
 
LDN has been shown to help both pain in MS and fibro but its not liscensed here for that use like medicmurphy says its for addiction withdrawal...but there has been research that shows its very effective with fibro pain for some people if you can find a doctor who will take a risk and try you on it.

Most won't.
 
Vicky what do you take that helps your pain or is the list above the ones you have tried? Like you codeine doesnt do anything much for me and its prescription strength with paracetamol..but i have tried others and they havent done much either except a lot of unpleasant sickness nausea side affects.
 
I'm aware that LDN is being tried on patients with MS, chronic pain and Fibro sufferers. At this point the scientific evidence is inconclusive in its efficacy. Drs tend to shy away from prescribing it because of its uncertainty in lowering the pain threshold and patients are then left with no pain control at all. All this tells me is that 1) Dr's who prescribe LDN are not taking Fibro sufferers pain seriously thus, leaving the patient with little pain control, if any at all

2)Dr's are willing to use Fibro sufferers as a control group to see if LDN works with little regard for their comfort.

Dr's are aware that the efficacy of this medication is at best anecdotal when prescribed for pain control.
 
I guess for some people for whom nothing has helped its worth a try. I am no expert in any way but i have heard of incidence where it has helped.

Many other drugs like Lyrica and antidepressants can have horrid side affects and still don't help many fibro sufferers so maybe if other avenues have failed some patients and practitioners might agree that LDN is worth a shot.

Anyway its not common practice here..i think a patient has to push and convince a doctor to prescribe off label here if they have researched and want to try it...i dont believe its a drug of choice or even generally allowed for FMS in the UK.
 
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Hello everyone,

Since I was diagnosed with fibro in 2011, my doctors have tried me on tramadol, cymbalta, skelaxin, naproxen, amitriptaline, flexeril and NOTHING helped my pain! My mood may have been a little better some days when I was in less pain but the nausea and extreme sleepiness was overwhelming at times. I have been basically sucking it up and dealing with the pain rather than continue to be their guinea pig. I am prescribed oxycodone on occasions which only takes the edge off slightly at 10mg. I don't know if I'm ever going to find something that will make me feel functional again. I hope you all find something that works but I'm not having any luck so far.
 
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