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Treatments for Fibromyalgia
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
Treating Fibromyalgia With Neurontin
Try, try, again could easily be the mantra for those with fibromyalgia, especially as they attempt to find the right combination to alleviate their symptoms and allow them to function at or near full capability. For many with fibromyalgia, Neurontin, an anti-seizure medication, has proven to be a huge success.
Neurontin, also known as Gabapentin, is generally used to help prevent seizures, particularly in epilepsy patients. It’s also the medication used for patients suffering from pain after shingles. But, for many with fibromyalgia, Neurontin has also helped to alleviate their pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms.
Like Lyrica, Neurontin’s successor, Neurontin has been proven to alleviate some symptoms of fibromyalgia patients, including allowing for better sleep and easing pain and fatigue. For those with fibromyalgia, Neurontin and Lyrica are often considered an excellent choice for pain management.
Neurontin boosts the natural brain chemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is absolutely critical in fibromyalgia patients as it forbids the transmission of pain signals from the nerves to the brain. Therefore, for fibromyalgia patients, Neurontin offers hope for a lessening of pain.
For those with fibromyalgia taking Neurontin, the most common side effects have included diarrhoea, general weakness, hand swelling, feet swelling, drowsiness, fatigue, problems with vision, and clumsiness. Loss of appetite is also a common side effect. Rest assured, side effects should quell within several weeks. However, if your side effects persist, consult your doctor.
Fortunately, for those with fibromyalgia, Neurontin is available in capsules, tablets, and liquid, making it an ideal choice for those who have difficulty swallowing capsules or tablets. If your doctor prescribes Neurontin for your fibromyalgia, you’ll want to ensure you take the exact dosage.
If you miss a dose of Neurontin, take it when you remember. If you’re close to your next dosage time, however, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Never take a double dose. For many with fibromyalgia, taking Neurontin relieves many of their symptoms, but forgetting to take a dose is common.
Additionally, because with fibromyalgia, Neurontin must be taken consistently, you want to ensure you have your prescription refilled prior to you running out. If you’re just starting on Neurontin, consider asking your doctor if he has any free samples you can try. Free samples save money, especially if you find Neurontin doesn’t work for you.
Should you accidentally take a double dose or an overdose of your Neurontin, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. You may be experiencing an overdose if you become lethargic; your speech becomes slurred, or you begin experiencing double-vision. Go to the emergency room, and tell the admitting nurse you’re a fibromyalgia patient on Neurontin.
It is absolutely essential that you never take an antacid medication when you take Neurontin. You must wait a minimum of two hours to ingest an antacid before or after taking Neurontin for your fibromyalgia. Additionally, those taking Neurontin should avoid alcohol, and discuss with your doctor any other medications – both over-the-counter and prescribed – you’re taking.
Additionally, once you’re on Neurontin, do not stop taking it without first consulting your doctor. Simply stopping taking your medication cold turkey could have adverse side effects. If you don’t think your fibromyalgia is improving with Neurontin, or you’re experiencing severe side effects, discuss stopping the medication with your doctor. He will likely want you to wean yourself off of the Neurontin before putting you on new meds.
It’s would be amiss not to make mention of the controversy surrounding Pzier’s, the manufacturer of Neurontin, method of marketing the drug in 2000. Convicted of misbranding Neurontin, Pzier had illegally encouraged doctors to prescribe Neurontin for fibromyalgia and other illnesses. As a result, Pzier was ordered to pay in excess of $400 million.
You should also be aware that some claim, including those with fibromyalgia, Neurontin is linked to attempted and successful suicides by patients on the medication. The climax came in 2004 when, in New York State, the law firm of Finkelstein & Partners filed suit against the drug company.
The lawsuit began a slew of similar suits that continue to this day. While it is extremely important to know there have been suicidal tendencies in those, including fibromyalgia patients, taking Neurontin, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
