Posted by Mitch on November 19, 2001, at 13:33:21
In reply to Re:Lithium/thyroid+neuropathic pain?, posted by Chloe on November 19, 2001, at 11:01:05
> Mitch
> I think this would have happened because there is no rash or flaking on my scalp. It just really hurt when I move my hair or lie on it! It does sound crazy. But I do know it's real. And the hair pain hasn't greatly improved since I stopped the Li two nights ago. But hopefully with time and increased neurontin, it will get better???I think you are on 300mg a day (that's what I am on), right? Are you taking that all at bedtime? Mine is 100mg x3, my script is 100mg x4 (if I want to up it at times). You might ask about doubling it and hold it there for a while (300mg 2x). I must admit that higher doses settled my irritable bowel down considerably on Neurontin. If I go from 300-400mg/day for several days my skin gets quite *oily* (I am clueless why).
>
> I wish I knew what kind of doc to go to, to straightent out all this mess. My pdoc clearly is out of her realm, and thinks it's some skin condition that I am having from the Li. An invisible skin condition?...She also didn't seem concerned about the TSH.If I were in your position I would try to do a lot of intensive internet searching (derm conditions, neuropathies). All it might take is the right website and you may find some rare dx that is treatable with some obscure med-who knows??
>
> Man, this is so upsetting to me that I can't get a good med regime that I can tolerate. I really miss the "cognitive dulling" of the Li. I LIKE not being too focused, or so aware of everything. Li just turn down the volume and that was such a relief. AND I am off the Li and still have scalp pain...GRRI really wonder about the difference between the Lithobid and the Eskalith (dyes, etc.). You said your pdoc called in some Lithobid? Li's got a fairly long half-life. You might try restarting the Lithobid, but just take it once every other day for a while, until you can get on something else.
>
> Who knows, maybe I have just gone nuts! Is neuropathic pain even a side effect of Li or other mood stabilizers, like Trileptal, the other culprit for me?I doubt it. I think the only ones you have mentioned that haven't really aggravated it were Neurontin and Tegretol. Neurontin and Teg for sure is used for chronic pain syndromes. You really might consider going back on a lower dose of Teg with a higher dose of Neurontin.
> Thanks again, Mitch.
> Chloe
>
poster:Mitch
thread:84008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84672.html