Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 110129

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?

Posted by jay on June 17, 2002, at 1:47:54


Hey folks:

Well, after six years on Effexor...I am now going into two weeks Effexor free time. The reason I quit was because of, you got it, side effects. I am not a drug basher, but this med and I didn't get along. I don't know why I stuck with it. One thing I really noticed is it messed up my blood sugar/insulin reactions. My testing was fine, but I would in a matter of a few minutes, become famished, trembling and shaking for food. Never mind the weight gain...the total flattening of emotions...numbness..grouchy miserableness..etc.(And yes I tried most 'augmentations' know to humans.)

So, I have been using a few meds to cope with my 'withdrawl'. One being Gravol (Drammamine in the U.S.) for nausea; precribed antibiotics to clear up an infection I got two days after I stopped Effexor; and for pain (headaches, muscle aches), only access to Tylenol # 1, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. I also take a PRN benzo, one called bromazepam. Man, I feel really good about this...not 'manic' good...but like after years I am living my life again.

Soooo..this brings me to my question. (Sorry for the ramble..heh.) Tension headaches...what do people find the best med that works for this? And how about getting them prescribed? I was looking at Fioricet; Oxycodone; and most strong narcotic pain killers for PRN use. How about muscle relaxers? What are the most widely effective (ie help whole body), powerful muscle relaxers?

Any help GREATLY..greatly appreciated. Thanx so much...

Jay

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay

Posted by Emme on June 17, 2002, at 10:27:35

In reply to HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?, posted by jay on June 17, 2002, at 1:47:54

Hi. I am prone to tension headaches/neckaches/shoulder aches - you know, it all runs together sometimes. At times, my meds have really worsened it a lot. While ibuprofen and tylenol really helped, I also found non-med solutions that made a big difference. A heating pad for one thing. Right across the shoulders. For hours. And believe it or not, a few sessions with an excellent massage therapist. She honed in on the worst spots (shoulder rotator cuffs, back of neck, back of shoulders) and broke the cycle of misery, and showed me some simple exercises to keep things from getting too bad. Now I don't know if that would be enough for your situation, but I swear I went from total pain to a huge improvement with the massage therapy. Expensive, but for a few sessions, well worth it.

Emme

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay

Posted by IsoM on June 17, 2002, at 13:11:13

In reply to HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?, posted by jay on June 17, 2002, at 1:47:54

Jay, we've discussed meds before but I can't remember all that was said. I was never able to fully stop Paxil, even after I'd switched to Celexa, due to those "withdrawal" problems. After being off Paxil for months & the problems still hadn't left, I went back on 10 mg of Paxil to stop them. But I REALLY wanted off it completely.

When I started adrafinil a few months back, I ran out of my Paxil, didn't want to go to the pharmacy that night & figured one day of withdrawal symptoms would be bearable till I went the next day. Lo & behold - no problems at all! Thought I'd extend it another day & see - still nothing! The adrafinil killed any withdrawal symptoms *completely*.

Even after I ran out of my adrafinil & didn't get any for a month or more, those withdrawal symptoms never returned like previously. SO my suggestion is, if you can tolerate adrafinil or modafinil (that's the part I can't remember about you), why not try it for a while to see if the withdrawal stops. You wouldn't need to continue taking either one after a while - just to tide you through.

As for headaches - Emme's suggestion is good. I prefer hot water bottles rather than heating pads as it molds itself to your body shape & cradles it rather than feeling lumpy like a pad. Fioricet is a good pain killer but be aware that there's a small amount of sedative in it that will accentuate the Gravol. And rather than muscle relaxants (which I've used), a BZD like Ativan or Xanax loosens muscle tension MUCH better. I found muscle relaxants (Flexeril) better for strained or spasmed muscles than muscle tension.

And don't forget to use those tight muscles! Gentle slow motion (like Tai Chi exercises) releases that built up tension best.

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » Emme

Posted by jay on June 18, 2002, at 0:21:55

In reply to Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay, posted by Emme on June 17, 2002, at 10:27:35


Thanks Emme. It's weird, because I do find that antidepressants in particular make my muscle soreness and tension worse. I really wonder about some of these studies that claim the a.d.'s help pain. For me, anxiety and tension go hand-in-hand, and I have only found a bit of relief with a benzo/narcotic combo taken prn.

I am also going to consider the massage thing, as it really is a very professional medical practise and science these days. I may also ask the doc about a few of the muscle relaxers..maybe ones that can help with anxiety too.

Anyhow...thanks so much for your input. My app't with my doc is tommorow morning..so I will let everyone know!

Take care...

Jay


> Hi. I am prone to tension headaches/neckaches/shoulder aches - you know, it all runs together sometimes. At times, my meds have really worsened it a lot. While ibuprofen and tylenol really helped, I also found non-med solutions that made a big difference. A heating pad for one thing. Right across the shoulders. For hours. And believe it or not, a few sessions with an excellent massage therapist. She honed in on the worst spots (shoulder rotator cuffs, back of neck, back of shoulders) and broke the cycle of misery, and showed me some simple exercises to keep things from getting too bad. Now I don't know if that would be enough for your situation, but I swear I went from total pain to a huge improvement with the massage therapy. Expensive, but for a few sessions, well worth it.
>
> Emme

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » IsoM

Posted by jay on June 18, 2002, at 0:42:47

In reply to Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay, posted by IsoM on June 17, 2002, at 13:11:13


Thanx IsoM. I had to "kill" the Effexor XR dose right away...or I would never do it. I have taken that med mostly since the time it came on the market. I am kinda proud of myself for being able to, and so deeply empathise with all of the folks whose withdrawl "complaints" from some of these meds are ignored. Again, I am far from 'anti-med', but I think we need to get back to using a certain med for particular symptoms, rather than the "magic potion" the new a.d.'s as they are touted to be sometimes.

I have never tried adrafinil or modafinil...these aren't available in Canada, right? I think I will wait until I see my doctor tommorow. I'd like to get a narcotic and a benzo...but I don't know how he will react. He is a young and nice guy, though, and I know he isn't going to give me some lecture if I ask about using both meds. I will keep your thoughts on muscle relaxers in mind...but may try one just to see how they work.

Also..I have read beta blockers where good for tension headaches. It's another avenue. We may just have to play around with these things until we find something right.

Oh..and yes the muscle exercises...for sure! I may even be getting into touring bike riding again this summer, so that will be good exercise, going through small towns and staying at bread-and-breakfast places.

Anyhow...thanks so much for the input...I will let you know how I make out!

Take care...
Jay


> Jay, we've discussed meds before but I can't remember all that was said. I was never able to fully stop Paxil, even after I'd switched to Celexa, due to those "withdrawal" problems. After being off Paxil for months & the problems still hadn't left, I went back on 10 mg of Paxil to stop them. But I REALLY wanted off it completely.
>
> When I started adrafinil a few months back, I ran out of my Paxil, didn't want to go to the pharmacy that night & figured one day of withdrawal symptoms would be bearable till I went the next day. Lo & behold - no problems at all! Thought I'd extend it another day & see - still nothing! The adrafinil killed any withdrawal symptoms *completely*.
>
> Even after I ran out of my adrafinil & didn't get any for a month or more, those withdrawal symptoms never returned like previously. SO my suggestion is, if you can tolerate adrafinil or modafinil (that's the part I can't remember about you), why not try it for a while to see if the withdrawal stops. You wouldn't need to continue taking either one after a while - just to tide you through.
>
> As for headaches - Emme's suggestion is good. I prefer hot water bottles rather than heating pads as it molds itself to your body shape & cradles it rather than feeling lumpy like a pad. Fioricet is a good pain killer but be aware that there's a small amount of sedative in it that will accentuate the Gravol. And rather than muscle relaxants (which I've used), a BZD like Ativan or Xanax loosens muscle tension MUCH better. I found muscle relaxants (Flexeril) better for strained or spasmed muscles than muscle tension.
>
> And don't forget to use those tight muscles! Gentle slow motion (like Tai Chi exercises) releases that built up tension best.

 

...only in Canada » jay

Posted by IsoM on June 18, 2002, at 3:14:47

In reply to Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » IsoM, posted by jay on June 18, 2002, at 0:42:47

Just kidding really. I'm in Canada too & order my adrafinil online. No problems with customs, it's allowable to bring it in for personal use. Modafinil (Provigil or Alertec) is available in Canada through prescription.

Beta-blockers brought on asthma in me & didn't help with headaches. It may do wonders for you though.

 

Botox for tension-type headaches

Posted by AlphaOne on June 21, 2002, at 10:15:35

In reply to HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?, posted by jay on June 17, 2002, at 1:47:54

Botox injections into the muscles work for a few months on headaches you describe.

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?

Posted by Lia Mason on June 23, 2002, at 17:53:38

In reply to HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?, posted by jay on June 17, 2002, at 1:47:54

Hi,

Pain meds--prescription and non--never did anything for my tension headaches. I took cardizem (an angina drug) for years and it worked great. I dropped it because when I started taking imipramine, it treated the headache as a side benefit. I sympathize. I think I went to 4 neurologists before someone suggested cardizem. Where are you? If it's Boston or NY, I know good people.

Lia

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?

Posted by BLPBart on June 25, 2002, at 0:05:55

In reply to Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain?, posted by Lia Mason on June 23, 2002, at 17:53:38

I have to agree with those who suggested massage therapy. I went through months and months of muscle relaxants and physical therapy for shoulder and neck pain that was unbearable sometimes. I got desperate one day and called a massage therapist and she (believe it or not) got rid of the pain entirely with two sessions.

On another note, my neck pain started coming back recently so I used some old muscle relaxants for a few weeks to try and prevent it from getting really bad. I was taking Soma. While on it I experienced some really bad episodes of my depression returning (I'm currently taking wellbutrin and dexedrine for depression and ADD). After doing some reading I found out that something like 10% of the people who take soma will experience depression as a side effect. Just thought it was worth mentioning because it definitely affected me.

 

Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay

Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on June 26, 2002, at 1:15:17

In reply to Re: HELP! Best med to treat headachemuscle pain? » jay, posted by Emme on June 17, 2002, at 10:27:35

Try an older tricyclic antidepressant. They are great for headaches and most types of body pain. Also, most anti-convulsants are very useful for headache prevention and for killing nerve pain. Depakote is FDA approved for migraine prophylaxis and its a very effective drug for that.


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