1. < Neuropathy

Has anyone tried anti-depressant medication for neuropathic pain?

Posted by greenacres @greenacres, Nov 13, 2021

I'm wondering how many people in this community with neuropathic pain have been prescribed some form of an anti-depressant along with or without Gabapentin to help ease the pain and if anyone has found this protocol helpful?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

glp1340122 | @glp1340122 | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "I think the first time in 2007 I started at 20mg for two weeks and then..." + (show)
@johnbishop

I think the first time in 2007 I started at 20mg for two weeks and then down to 15 for two weeks. After that I started tapering down by 2.5 every two weeks until I started having too much pain and I slowed the taper to 1 mg every two weeks or a month if I was struggling with pain. It took 3-1/2 years to taper completely off my first time. Then 6 years after that the PMR returned but I had made some lifestyle changes with more exercise and eating healthier with less sugar and inflammatory foods and was able to taper off in 1-1/2 years.

What helped me was keeping a daily pain and dosage log. If my pain was more than a 2 on my scale, I didn't taper and would sometimes bump my dose up for a week by half of what it was the previous time so I wasn't going all the way back to the previous dose and would still be down a little in dosage.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for this information. It does help a lot to make decisions about my own dosage, more likely, adding as the PMR becomes more painful, especially when I get up in the mornings. 3 mg have been what I've been taking for a few weeks, from4 mg. I think I will let my rheumatologist know and see what he thinks about going backwards and taking more prednisone. What changes have you made in your diet that you think helped you. The doc told me that taking prednisone puts weight on you - I seemed more hungry with the higher doses.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @glp1340122 "Thank you so much for this information. It does help a lot to make decisions about..." + (show)
@glp1340122

Thank you so much for this information. It does help a lot to make decisions about my own dosage, more likely, adding as the PMR becomes more painful, especially when I get up in the mornings. 3 mg have been what I've been taking for a few weeks, from4 mg. I think I will let my rheumatologist know and see what he thinks about going backwards and taking more prednisone. What changes have you made in your diet that you think helped you. The doc told me that taking prednisone puts weight on you - I seemed more hungry with the higher doses.

Jump to this post

@glp1340122, There is another discussion that might be helpful for helping with the PMR and the weight gain.

-- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/

REPLY
judithfraser000 | @judithfraser000 | Dec 6, 2022

I am using gabapentin for pain. I hate to use meds, but this helps a lot.

REPLY
1 reply
rebsue | @rebsue | Dec 7, 2022
In reply to @judithfraser000 "I am using gabapentin for pain. I hate to use meds, but this helps a lot." + (show)
@judithfraser000

I am using gabapentin for pain. I hate to use meds, but this helps a lot.

Jump to this post

Judith--can you describe the pain you have which has been helped by gabapentin? And, what dosage works? Thanks!

REPLY
bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Dec 7, 2022

Hi, All -
I have tried gabapentin and Cymbalta and had negative reactions. Has anyone tried Lyrica for nerve pain?
Your feedback as always is appreciated.

REPLY
1 reply
txsongbird | @txsongbird | Dec 7, 2022

I'm taking Gabapentin, 300mg nightly at bedtime. It wasn't helping much, so I found a doctor who prescribes medical THC for conditions such as cancer, neuropathy, MS, and other painful diseases.

The THC gummy puts out the "I'm on fire" nerve pain.

REPLY
kenc | @kenc | Dec 8, 2022

Have had no success with using anitdepressant for pain management.

REPLY
reesa | @reesa | Mar 22 11:29pm

I would like to know what exactly ketomine is used for? My pain dr has recommended me to a clinic. I have multiple pain issues but they are somewhat manageable at this time. I have bone on bone arthritis in my right hip and left knee as well as central disk bulge in both L4- 5 and L5-S1. I also have arthritis in my neck and tendinitis in my right arm. I have neuropathy caused by a trapped saphenous nerve in my right leg.
Now that I’ve typed it all in I guess I do have a lot! Anyway, I’m wondering if ketamine is actually for pain or is it more used for depression. I am on 20 mg of Paxil for that and feel that I am doing fine. Also the administration of ketamine kind of scares me because I was told from the clinic that they give infusions And that it takes 3 hours. Would appreciate any comments on this. Thank you!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 23 8:07am
In reply to @reesa "I would like to know what exactly ketomine is used for? My pain dr has recommended..." + (show)
@reesa

I would like to know what exactly ketomine is used for? My pain dr has recommended me to a clinic. I have multiple pain issues but they are somewhat manageable at this time. I have bone on bone arthritis in my right hip and left knee as well as central disk bulge in both L4- 5 and L5-S1. I also have arthritis in my neck and tendinitis in my right arm. I have neuropathy caused by a trapped saphenous nerve in my right leg.
Now that I’ve typed it all in I guess I do have a lot! Anyway, I’m wondering if ketamine is actually for pain or is it more used for depression. I am on 20 mg of Paxil for that and feel that I am doing fine. Also the administration of ketamine kind of scares me because I was told from the clinic that they give infusions And that it takes 3 hours. Would appreciate any comments on this. Thank you!

Jump to this post

@reesa There is another discussion that might help with some of your concerns -
Has anyone tried Ketamine for severe pain management?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-tried-ketamine-for-severe-pain-management/
Here's more information on ketamine treatment:
-- What to Know About Ketamine Therapy for Pain Management: https://www.healthline.com/health/ketamine-therapy-for-pain-management

REPLY
bevf4 | @bevf4 | Mar 24 12:58pm

I have been prescribed a combination of Lexamil in the morning and Trazodone at night to help me sleep because the burning and prickly sensations were making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.