Gabapentin/Lyrica.

[monkeybus]

I just get them on demand, any doctor will do.

I gave up last week, after about a year of daily use. I just used to sit there watching TV of a night time, munching away on Gabapentin. Didn't even care about the dose.

The spasms is the main thing with me. Leg spasms, stomach spasms, upper body sometimes.

Anyway, so last week I stopped. Just because I'd ran out and had no time to see a doctor. I thought I'd just make do with Valium and Baclofen.

I'd been so used to drifting off to sleep, legs as heavy as lead. Not so much as a twitch.

But the spasms, they came with a vengeance, I'd taken 5mg of Valium and 30mg of Baclofen. The stomach spasms were phenomenal. I felt like I was turning inside out.

A week with no Gabapentin, it was weird getting sensations back in my body after generally being anesthetized to life.

I'll get to the point now.

Gabapentin and Lyrica are unbeatable for conquering muscle spasms.

Even a year or so back, Benzos would work but now they don't.

I'll also point out that Phenibut is a decent alternative to Gabapentin

powdercity.com/products/phe...

Went to the doctor today to ask about some antidepressants, that's a different story.

Got some Gabapentin and Lyrica while I was there.

Seeing a psychiatrist tomorrow. I'll report back on that.

[JasonHarnum]

let us know how it goes Monkeybus. How did you come up with a username like that; Monkeybus?

[monkeybus in reply to JasonHarnum]

I like monkeys. Was originally going to be Monkeybusiness, but that was too long for the forum I registered on years ago.

[JasonHarnum in reply to monkeybus]

you know, I thought it was something like that!

[Allder]

I have also been taking Gabapentin for almost a year now for my leg spasms to get some sleep night time. It works well but feel the same as you, the legs gets really heavy and it makes it more difficult to walk, or almost impossible. tested Lyrica for a month but didn't felt good on those and it didn't have the same result as Gabapentin. I take the full daily dose 8pm every day 3600mg but my legs are heavy the first waking hour the next day also. But I'm willing to do everything to get the sleep.

[monkeybus in reply to Allder]

It's cracking stuff. Gets me stoned as well.

Gabapentin/lyrica, all the same to me.

[Allder]

Lyrica contains morfin, didn't make me feel good at all. But I Gabapentin really gets me tired and perhaps the feeling of stoned. But have never tested any drog so can't compare it with anything

[Allder]

Regarding Gabapentin, do you take all at once or so you spread it out over the day? And how much do you take.

[monkeybus in reply to Allder]

I generally start about 6pm at night. I've tried it all sorts of ways over the last year or so. Taking for breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Now I usually just take from 6pm onwards, so around about midnight I am plenty stoned, and more importantly, spasm free.

Saw a psychiatrist today. First time in my life. Every doctor I have seen has just wanted to kick me out as soon as I started banging on about my problems. Made a change for someone to listen to me.

He prescribed Paxil. I'll give it a go. Couldn't possibly feel any worse.

[monkeybus in reply to monkeybus]

Just read your dose Allder I'll generally do a minimum of 6000mg.

Probably way too much, but I couldn't care less.

[Allder in reply to monkeybus]

6000mg seems much. 3600mg is the maximum dose, here in sweden at least. But i agree with you, anything to get rid of the muscle spasm. I also takes 2mg benzo at the same time. The doctors think thats a high dose but i have no choose if i want to sleep.

[monkeybus in reply to Allder]

Like I said, I don't care. My insurance is great and my doctors just hand it out like candy.

Which Benzo do you take?

[Allder]

I use this

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clona...

[monkeybus in reply to Allder]

Clonazepam, I used to take that. Sub-lingual, lovely menthol taste. Comes on quick.

If I am taking Gabapentin, I usually take 0.5mg of Etizolam. I picked up a load when I was in Japan a few years ago. Etizolam is great. I'm not sure if it is available in Europe.

One thing is for sure, these muscle spasms are not getting any better.

If the worst came to the worst, and my Gabapentin was cut off, I'd go back to booze. That certainly works.

Allder Do you get any kind of hangover from the Gabapentin?

[Allder in reply to monkeybus]

I dont feel anything in my head the day after, just soft legs in the morning. Booze just make it worse for me... I just read about Etizolam, people writes that they get really tired of that drug.

[Allder in reply to monkeybus]

Do you take anything today for fatigue?

[monkeybus in reply to Allder]

Modafinil. Every day. About 300mg. It works great.

[Allder]

I'm seeking a doctor that can subscribe me modafinil. My doctor is on vacation but I want it right away. I'm also curious how many with AMN that have Fatigue, perhaps the moderator can make an poll for it?!

[SongStream in reply to Allder]

Fatigue is an ongoing issue with me. The problem is that I don't know if the fatigue is a result of AMN, Addison's or both. My endo wants to increase my corticosteroids from 6 mg of prednisone with an additional 5-10 mg of hydrocortisone-evenly spaced out. I do not want to overmedicate. (Dosage recommendation by the Endocrine Society limits to 25 mg.) And overmedication can increase the risk of morbidity, cataracts,, heart disease and osteoporosis, which I already have. Do you also have Addison's?

Oh, I take 300 mg of Gabapentin but only for the neuropathy pain in my feet.

[deengo]

I'm going to ask my neurologist about getting me modafinil. Is it really that big of an improvement? I also think I need to start taking notes before I go see her again. It's been over a year and I have got a lot of info from you guys. There was one med that's not allowed here in the u.s. but I forget which one.

[monkeybus]

Modafinil is the supreme anti-fatigue medication. But it has it's price. Makes you mono-maniacal. Have to keep an eye on yourself.

mod4all.com is back online now, the man who runs it mailed me earlier. Short of getting it from India, he's the man. The stuff costs a fortune from a regular doctor.

A few MS patients get prescribed Methylphenidate (Ritalin). Basically speed. I was refused that, though my friend is prescribed it for ADHD. He gave me some. Very credible stimulant.

Trouble with our disease is very few medications are approved for it. We all have to start demanding a wider range of meds.

Amantadine, Methylphenidate, Modafinil, Gabapentin, Lyrica, Piracetam, SSRI's, Tri Cyclic antidepressants (don't let the word Antidepressant put you off, they can really stimulate), 4-AP, 4-AP-3-MeOH, Ampyra.

Plenty more besides. We should compile a list of effective meds.

Take care folks, talk to you all later.

[monkeybus in reply to monkeybus]

Forgot to add ALCAR, great for fatigue.

[Allder]

I also have Addison, take 20mg hydrocortisone each day for it. That’s the highest dose I can take says my doctor. My body doesn’t create testosterone as it should so I have to take a replacement for that also. If you have Addison the risk for the testosterone problem is very big but easy to fix. But it makes you tired also.

I have an appointment with my neurologist the 25-august, I will ask him about Modafinil and the side effects. But sure he will give it to me, I need something.

Perhaps he thinks some other medication is better.

[monkeybus]

My hormone levels are fine, on the low side of fine, but fine all the same.

Yet, I have biblical levels of fatigue.

I started down the drug route about three years back. A lot of trial and error.

Today, 100mg Modafinil, 5g ALCAR and 2g Piracetam and 4-AP. Works fine, but I'm not working today. If I was, I'd repeat this three times.

Forgot the Paroxetine. Anyway, they all play their part.

Keep us informed on how you are doing.

[Emerald58]

I have a baclofen pump in my abdomen for spactisity, does a good job. I've stopped taking all my mess as sick of falling asleep at the drop of a hat all the time. Am hoping to trial Sativex spray to see if helps with pain now.