Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 5022

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"burning" from meds

Posted by Laurie on April 18, 1999, at 15:28:04

I have been put on Prozac and Pamelor for treatment of chronic headache (the result of a viral infection). Both medications have caused me to have a severe burning sensation on my head (with prozac it spread from head to toe). Both were low doses. Now I'm stuck with this sensation even after stopping the meds. Help -- what is this???

 

Re: "burning" from meds

Posted by Alex on April 22, 1999, at 18:18:42

In reply to "burning" from meds, posted by Laurie on April 18, 1999, at 15:28:04

> I have been put on Prozac and Pamelor for treatment of chronic headache (the result of a viral infection). Both medications have caused me to have a severe burning sensation on my head (with prozac it spread from head to toe). Both were low doses. Now I'm stuck with this sensation even after stopping the meds. Help -- what is this???

Burning of the skin may be a symptom of anxiety. Discontinuing certain medicines such as benzodiazepines may cause a burning sensation in the jaw, mouth or tongue. There is a poorly understood disorder, the burning mouth syndrome, that may persist after more generalized burning sensations have subsided. Burning in the extremities (causalgia) may be
associated with peripheral neuropathies such as those found with type I diabetes mellitus. I cannot explain your generalized burning sensations, but I would consider consulting a neurologist about your headaches and the possibility that your medications triggered an unrecognized anxiety reaction.

Alex

 

Re: "burning" from meds

Posted by Laurie on April 23, 1999, at 12:04:46

In reply to Re: "burning" from meds, posted by Alex on April 22, 1999, at 18:18:42

> > I have been put on Prozac and Pamelor for treatment of chronic headache (the result of a viral infection). Both medications have caused me to have a severe burning sensation on my head (with prozac it spread from head to toe). Both were low doses. Now I'm stuck with this sensation even after stopping the meds. Help -- what is this???
>
> Burning of the skin may be a symptom of anxiety. Discontinuing certain medicines such as benzodiazepines may cause a burning sensation in the jaw, mouth or tongue. There is a poorly understood disorder, the burning mouth syndrome, that may persist after more generalized burning sensations have subsided. Burning in the extremities (causalgia) may be
> associated with peripheral neuropathies such as those found with type I diabetes mellitus. I cannot explain your generalized burning sensations, but I would consider consulting a neurologist about your headaches and the possibility that your medications triggered an unrecognized anxiety reaction.
>
> Alex

Alex,
Thanks for your reply. I have seen three neurologists. They all diagnose chronic tension-type headache, but none can explain the burning sensation and why it began and worsens with antidepressants. Frankly, it doesn't feel like a headache to me (I've had more than my share). My internist feels it's a dysesthesia. Any ideas about what I can take to deal with this? Tried neurontin, muscle relaxants, they won't let me take pain killers and yes, the pain makes me extremely anxious. I have read that buspirone may be helpful -- any insight?? Thanks!

 

Re: "burning" from meds

Posted by Alex on April 26, 1999, at 20:28:56

In reply to Re: "burning" from meds, posted by Laurie on April 23, 1999, at 12:04:46

> > > I have been put on Prozac and Pamelor for treatment of chronic headache (the result of a viral infection). Both medications have caused me to have a severe burning sensation on my head (with prozac it spread from head to toe). Both were low doses. Now I'm stuck with this sensation even after stopping the meds. Help -- what is this???
> >
> > Burning of the skin may be a symptom of anxiety. Discontinuing certain medicines such as benzodiazepines may cause a burning sensation in the jaw, mouth or tongue. There is a poorly understood disorder, the burning mouth syndrome, that may persist after more generalized burning sensations have subsided. Burning in the extremities (causalgia) may be
> > associated with peripheral neuropathies such as those found with type I diabetes mellitus. I cannot explain your generalized burning sensations, but I would consider consulting a neurologist about your headaches and the possibility that your medications triggered an unrecognized anxiety reaction.
> >
> > Alex
>
> Alex,
> Thanks for your reply. I have seen three neurologists. They all diagnose chronic tension-type headache, but none can explain the burning sensation and why it began and worsens with antidepressants. Frankly, it doesn't feel like a headache to me (I've had more than my share). My internist feels it's a dysesthesia. Any ideas about what I can take to deal with this? Tried neurontin, muscle relaxants, they won't let me take pain killers and yes, the pain makes me extremely anxious. I have read that buspirone may be helpful -- any insight?? Thanks!

Buspar is a possibility, but be advised its onset is gradual and it may be several months before you realize your level of anxiety has decreased. At the risk of sounding flaky, have you considered hypnotherapy from a qualified PhD psychologist. Also, in seeing three neurologists, are you satisfied that you got a good complete and comprehensive evaluation from any
one of them including a CAT scan? I would avoid strong pain medications and benzodiazepines as the problems of stopping these after a relatively short period of time (i.e. 30 days) may prove more unpleasant than the symptoms you are treating. They may also obscure new emerging symptoms. Have you considered consulting an allergist? I'm afraid I don't have any good
answers; only a few thoughts. I wish you a quick and complete recovery.
- Alex

 

Re: "burning" from meds

Posted by Laurie on April 27, 1999, at 20:30:19

In reply to Re: "burning" from meds, posted by Alex on April 26, 1999, at 20:28:56

> > > > I have been put on Prozac and Pamelor for treatment of chronic headache (the result of a viral infection). Both medications have caused me to have a severe burning sensation on my head (with prozac it spread from head to toe). Both were low doses. Now I'm stuck with this sensation even after stopping the meds. Help -- what is this???
> > >
> > > Burning of the skin may be a symptom of anxiety. Discontinuing certain medicines such as benzodiazepines may cause a burning sensation in the jaw, mouth or tongue. There is a poorly understood disorder, the burning mouth syndrome, that may persist after more generalized burning sensations have subsided. Burning in the extremities (causalgia) may be
> > > associated with peripheral neuropathies such as those found with type I diabetes mellitus. I cannot explain your generalized burning sensations, but I would consider consulting a neurologist about your headaches and the possibility that your medications triggered an unrecognized anxiety reaction.
> > >
> > > Alex
> >
> > Alex,
> > Thanks for your reply. I have seen three neurologists. They all diagnose chronic tension-type headache, but none can explain the burning sensation and why it began and worsens with antidepressants. Frankly, it doesn't feel like a headache to me (I've had more than my share). My internist feels it's a dysesthesia. Any ideas about what I can take to deal with this? Tried neurontin, muscle relaxants, they won't let me take pain killers and yes, the pain makes me extremely anxious. I have read that buspirone may be helpful -- any insight?? Thanks!
>
> Buspar is a possibility, but be advised its onset is gradual and it may be several months before you realize your level of anxiety has decreased. At the risk of sounding flaky, have you considered hypnotherapy from a qualified PhD psychologist. Also, in seeing three neurologists, are you satisfied that you got a good complete and comprehensive evaluation from any
> one of them including a CAT scan? I would avoid strong pain medications and benzodiazepines as the problems of stopping these after a relatively short period of time (i.e. 30 days) may prove more unpleasant than the symptoms you are treating. They may also obscure new emerging symptoms. Have you considered consulting an allergist? I'm afraid I don't have any good
> answers; only a few thoughts. I wish you a quick and complete recovery.
> - Alex
Thanks for your response. My internist and I have come to the conclusion that I basically had an allergic reaction to the Prozac (and can't take anything that affects my serotonin levels, buspirone included). Re-starting the Prozac and then later taking Pamelor only proved to make things worse. Last week was awful pain-wise so we decided to restart the Neurontin. Within 48 hours my pain was cut in half. I'm holding steady there, but it's wonderful to function and enjoy life again. I don't know how long this dysesthesia will last (Eli Lilly said adverse reactions can last up to 80 days after stopping the medication -- interesting), but for now I'm quite sure that I don't have a headache as the three neuros have told me. They were too content to put me in a little box labelled "stressed out housewife" and send me on my way. I did meet with a psychologist, BTW, at the headache clinic who agreed I'm not the least bit depressed, I just have PMS trouble due to my severe hormonal imbalance. Guess my family will just have to deal with that!! For now, Neurontin plus Flexeril and the occasional Lorcet are making life liveable again. Thanks for the concern!


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