Nefopam is evil....🤢

[HawthorneBerry]

Hello

After trying my best to fight my daily pain with paracetamol, I’ve finally had to give in and ask my GP for some help. I’ve also been prescribed some meds for anxiety too but I’ve only started today...that goes for the nefopam too.

So...the prescribed dosage for the nefopam is 2 30mg tablets up to 3 times per day. I thought I’d try one tablet first to see how I went on.

Horrific is not even the word for it. I took one then went out with my fiancé to a local garden centre. I felt okay and then, less than 5 minutes walking around I felt suddenly very sick. Cut a long story short....I had to make my way outside and sit down. I went red hot all over, was sweating, felt unbelievably sick- I don’t know how I wasn’t and light headed. I eventually managed to get back to the car where I then became very drowsy.

Got back home and although the sickness had eased a little, I still felt bad. Writing this now at 7.40pm and I took the one tablet around 1pm, I’m still not 100% but much better than I was. Although I feel really tired, I also feel ‘wired’ and I can’t nod off properly.

I’m going to try half a tablet tomorrow after food to see if that helps any. The pain did go but at a price. I was hoping that these pills were going to improve my life especially for work. No way can I use them there. I’ll persevere for another day or so.

Any advice or personal experience about these devil 👿 pills would be greatly received.

🧡💙❤️

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

hey are the listed side effects and there are soem suggestions on how to deal with them on the link below but I would suggest having a word with your GP or pharmacist.

patient.info/medicine/nefop...

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

if you are thinking of the benzo class then these are not in that. Its also known as acupan.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

I had to double check to make sure but it is not in the sam class as diazepam. As well to leave the post so that others know it is not in that class as well

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi HawthorneBerry - I hadn't heard of this med before, so have had a look online. Whether you take it with/after food doesn't seem to make a difference. See also this info on the NHS website: nhs.uk/medicines/nefopam/

Something that may help.... if you've been sitting, & about to stand, tighten your abdominal muscles before standing. Otherwise if you feel light-headed, squat right down, rather than just sit. I speak as someone who has low blood pressure, & can suffer with being 'light-headed.'

As advised, if the side-effects remain untoward, discuss this with your GP.

[Greenpeace]

Hi HawthorneBerry , I have been taking Nefopam 50mg X 4 times daily for the past 3 years, and apart from a slightly dry mouth have had no other side effects. I also take Amitriptyline 50 mgs at night, & Paracetamol 2 500 mg X 4 times a day. This combination really works for me.

I hope you manage to get your pain under control, & I would definitely speak to your doc if you have further side-effects.

Good luck.

GP. 😊😊

[Sandra600]

Hi, nefopam is the only thing that has really helped me with pain, but the side effects are awful, it makes me feel sick, gives me a bad headache, makes me sweat, makes my insomnia worse and just makes me feel generally weird.

[HawthorneBerry in reply to Sandra600]

I’m glad it’s not just me then. Wow....I thought co-codamol was bad but this is something else.

I’m certainly not going to be able to function properly on them and they were supposed to help me manage my pain especially whilst at work. I won’t be able to drive either. Feeling really disappointed.

Ohh well....looks like I’ll be sticking with paracetamol. Not the best for fibro pain management but at least you know where you are with it and you can function properly.

Strong pain killers always seem to upset my system. That’s why I’ve avoided them.

Thanks for the reply- much appreciated 🧡💛💜

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to HawthorneBerry]

finding the right meds fo you is a challenge. Being able to take smaller doses can help. You mention co codamol but one of its benefits is it is available in a lot of strengths like the non prescription ones with paracetamol. Maybe you could go back to the gp and see what you may be able to take or whether there is a smaller dosage for your current meds.

[Sandra600]

That’s ok, glad to help. The only thing I take now is 100mg of tramadol in the morning, it’s not great for pain relief but helps a bit and it also helps me sleep. If I take any later in the day it makes my insomnia worse. I think it’s quite common for people with fibro to not tolerate drugs very well unfortunately. I hope you find something to help you

[BeeBonnetBetty in reply to Sandra600]

This is 4 years later but hoping someone will see. Tramadol is the only thing that ever hoped my fibro pain but doctors won’t prescribe it now. Any advice on where to go or how to get a doctor to have compassion and prescribe?

[HawthorneBerry]

Thank you very much. I’ve also been prescribed sertraline for my anxiety.

Taken my second tablet this morning. Not sure if that’s making me feel a bit weird too.

Anyway, I’ll see how I go.

Thanks again 💜💙🧡

[Sahara88uk]

Same with Nefopam. Only took one, then told the GP I wasn't taking anymore. That wasn't for fibro though. Seems an odd choice for Fibro. Are you sure it's the Nefopam and not the anxiety med? I am sure the GP would ask the same.

Anyway, I started on Nortriptyline for Fibro which made me far too tired to function, and now I am on Gabapentin. The list of fibro meds I had recommended by Rheumatologist were the two I have already mentioned, and Pregabalin, Duloxetine

[HawthorneBerry in reply to Sahara88uk]

No, the onset of feeling extremely sick, profoundly sweating and becoming very drowsy was definitely down to the nefopam.

I had taken the anxiety meds some hours before and felt okay.

Nefopam , as I understand it is used mainly for pain relief after accidents, surgery and for pain caused by cancer . It can also be used for long term chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Not as widely used for that I don’t think but my GP thought it worth a go.

Thanks very much for the reply though!

💙💚❤️

[HawthorneBerry]

Hello All

So just a quick update on my second day using nefopam. I’ve taken 1 x30mg tablet today and managed to cut it in half. I also made sure that I had a full stomach before taking. I had half a tablet after my lunch which quickly kicked in and didn’t make me feel sick. It did still make me very drowsy though so these pills are a definite no go for work. Eased my pain somewhat though.

I’ve just taken the other half before bed. I had a terrible nights sleep last night with bad insomnia- which I never usually suffer with and bad neck pains. I think the sleeplessness was down to the sertraline so I’m hoping that the nefopam makes me drowsy enough to sleep.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks for all your replies and advice today. It really does help.

💛💙🧡

[Hidden]

I was given nefopam in hospital after surgery for fractured hip , only had one tablet and it made me hallucinate etc I’d never take them again @