I have been on Gabapentin and Tramadol for 5 years to help with pain. I have now been told GP will no longer prescribe as they are shown to have no effect on chronic pain and are addictive. Anyone else had the same?
Painkillers: I have been on Gabapentin... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Painkillers
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Chardonnaylady
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How strange
I had contact with the pain clinic consultant over a couple of weeks ago prescribing me with Tramadol to be used as and when the pain is bad in addition to a daily usage of Pregabalin. I’m baffled 😯
My pain clinic, was so apprehensive about giving tramadol , it was like getting B***s out of a stone, but one tablet, and it all said goodbye, so I can’t tolerate it.
Goes to show how differently doctors think, or understand chronic pain 😉
And it shows how the recommendation from N.I.C.E is ignored and the doctors make a decision willy nilly …I just don’t get it ☹️
It’s clear nobody understands chronic pain as you said !
That’s cos GP’s have to follow the guide lines, consultants are allowed to go off book but getting to see a consultant is a nightmare
Oh. I’ve been told no pregablin and no tramadol. All docs different I suppose
It’s mind blowing, isn’t it? However, I will soon be starting those 2 meds you mentioned. Apart from Fibromyalgia and other conditions i get seizures…never tried before! Wishing you well
I think the problem lays with it being a class C drug and addictive. The longer it is prescribed the higher the dose needed. I can't take any prescription meds as they all have horrid side effects for me. When I visited the pain clinic the consultant said she would never prescribe Tramadol for fibro and if anyone attends her clinic and is currently taking it she will wean them off. Each consultant/doctor will obviously have their own views.
Must be a nice position to be pain free and decide for ALL of your patients before even meeting them they WILL be weaned off a drug that has possibly allowed them to continue working for several years! That just boils my pee! Sorry Dinkie, got a little bit annoyed 😬
Her prescription for me were injections into the spine and back of head. The spinal ones didn't work. The head one cured the migraines for a bit. That was it I was then discharged. The referral to Guys and St Thomas's fibro clinic was far more informative and helpful.
Yeah my experience of a pain clinic wasn't very positive either. Years ago when I was still trying to give up smoking they gave me a lecture on how bad it was for you and how all my pain would just disappear if I stopped!🙄 Well I stopped, my pain didn't 😱
I had that with alcohol. Admittedly, yes, I drank far too much and it was not helping anything, but no matter what I was asking the doctor about, it was always because of my drinking.
Depression, oh, stop drinking, alcohol is a depressant. Anxiety, stop drinking, it’s making anxiety worse. Pain, erm, ah, well.. you’re probably vitamin deficient and that’s why you’re in pain, it’s excess alcohol that causes it.. Pins and needles in hands, ankles so painful I can’t stand up in the morning before painkillers.. nerve damage caused by yep, you guessed it, drinking!
Well, I quit drinking over six months ago and whaddayaknow - not just has none of the above got any better, it turns out alcohol was numbing the full extent of it all! 🤦🏻♀️
Reminded me of a consultant asking all the usual questions, how much do you drink and when I replied I very rarely have a drink he quickly said oh ok not anymore?
Wasn't till I was out of his office and thinking about it - he was actually putting the cause of my idiopathic (no known cause) neuropathy down to my imaginary drinking when I don't even drink! 😩
I know how you feel, mine was the pain is because of your weight if you loose weight the pain will go, so I lost 5 stone and you guessed it the pain was the same.When I saw the consultant again she said we'll done on your weight loss, I told her the pain was the same and my knees were actually worse.
Her reply was well thin people with arthritis and fibro suffer pain too. Really 🙄
😡🤷♀️🙈it sounds like she thinks one size fits all in her evaluation!! These are the ‘experts’ we are relying upon heavily for answers 😳😲maybe because I’m in pain and can’t sleep I’m being unjust but god help us.
I never found the pain clinic useful. I even had one so called pain Consultant query whether I actually had Fibro, well take that up with the Consultant Rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Fibro and EDS.
I think she was frustrated because despite going for months, nothing helped. I had so many steroid injections all over I felt like I was going to start spouting water when I had a drink, Tom and Jerry style.
😂😂 Think that might be one of the biggest problems. Trying to 'fix' people when they don't all fit in the same little box!
I feel for you, I really do. My name is Cotswold but I’m thinking of changing it to END OF MY TETHER! The more I read all of our situations, I deliberately chose the word situations rather than ‘stories’ because a lot of stories appear fictional and living with constant chronic pain, stress, trauma, anxiety and depression, PTSD plus so many more other conditions too numerous to mention is anything but fictional. It is so far removed from that!!! Sparkling sunshine would you please, if possible forward this to Cheetiecat. Thank you x
I totally agree with you. This may be controversial but I am honestly believing that a lot of decisions around medication nowadays seems to be to do with the cost🤔correct me if I wrong but this past year I have had so many problems with my prescriptions that I’ve never had before and have been left without any pain meds in place of ones that work so well for me and it’s having a huge impact on me daily
I don’t know that it’s cost related, as most of the ones that are suddenly an issue are generics and cost pennies.
It’s more that they’ve suddenly ‘discovered’ that people who are in pain can become reliant on their pain medication and that most of them are physically addictive (as in, you’ll have withdrawal symptoms if you stop) and this is now a Very Bad Thing and we’re all addicts and must be weaned off everything because there was some study done that found that for some people, meditation and yoga and gentle exercise were effective in managing pain and they were able to reduce their medication, and that obviously means that none of us get any benefit from medications and we just want to stay on them because we’re junkies.
That’s how my doctors are treating it anyway, I get a big letter with every prescription about opiod medication and how it can be reduced (and I’m only on co-codamol!)
My friend who has a seriously damaged, irreparable and permanent nerve problem in her spine and is in almost constant pain from it also got her meds just stopped cold turkey because she had been on them a certain length of time. Consultant had to step in as GP dug her heels in and refused to reinstate them.
Yes, exactly, I was on co-codamol too alongside other meds that really helped me and reduced my pain to a manageable level most of the time and I was angry too as, as you say we have it told to us all the time that we must NOT suddenly stop because of what it could do but then a gp I saw that 1 time only for 1 appointment who obviously knew nothing about me or my health history stopped every single one of my medications and for 7 weeks I couldn’t get an appointment or speak to anyone as they kept cancelling appointments and telephone consultations 😡and still were up until today when I finally got a call. I also twisted my knee at work last week so you can imagine the pain I’ve been in and still am 😢someone is collecting my new tablets tomorrow for me 🙏 also an unknown 😡person at the surgery had put a note on the file saying I’d asked to be taken off the co-codamol😳😮I would never have done that because I can’t function without them! It beggars belief it really does. So sorry to hear about your friend too. I have spoken to a fair few people who are having the same terrible experiences. Thank you for replying and take care x
Oh geez, that sounds brutal! Seven weeks?! I'll give me doctors that, they might be crap when you get in, but there's no problem getting in as they only do same day appointments. You might need to phone 100 times before you get through at 8am, and sometimes the appointments are all gone and you have to try the next day, but I've never had longer than a few days if I've needed to see a doctor.
It’s been soul destroying tbh. I’ve lost all faith in my surgery and I changed to be with them, not through choice but my old drs was closed down. They were so good before covid that I was so grateful but now 😌
I've been on tramadol a few years now & they do help with my fibromyalgia & depression. After another rheumatology appointment my consultant wants me to try Pregabalin as Gabapentin side effects were so bad. I won't get pregabalin until I stop taking tramadol. Dr's have been told to cut back on tramadol due to the addictive properties & abuse, so wither it works for you or not they are trying to stop it being prescribed.
That again seems to be a very odd way around to do it and is perhaps being used as an unnecessarily cruel method to get you off the Tramadol.It's actually Garbapentin and Pregabalin that are virtually identical , and Pregabalin is usually slowly introduced as your taper down from Garb. until one replaces the other causing you less withdrawal symptoms. If the Garb is actually the medication that is making you feel bad they should definitely be allowing you to replace it with Pregabalin first before you also try to slowly reduce the Tramadol , so that you can do this more comfortably and easily and without rebound pain flaring your Fibro.
And again , they should also be offering you medication , physio and other training and support to help you manage your pain so that you don't require high doses of medication.
Unfortunately, that's what often happens when Rheumatology tries to take control of Pain Management instead of a Pain Consultant, they are not as experienced in making the pharmaceutical combinations and adjustments that are required and usually don't know what other ways they should be helping you to take control of your pain before weaning you off the medications that you use.
I would suggest you query this with your Consultant or GP and look up the NICE guidelines online for prescribing these drugs before you speak to them , so you are armed with the facts if they try to gaslight you.
Take care , Bee
They are trying to get people to taper off Tramadol for reasons of addiction if you do not appear to be getting significant improvement on it in most Trust areas in response to new guidelines.
What your GP says about Garbapentin, however, is nonsense. Many people get some pain relief and benefit from using it , or Pregabalin. It's the most common neuro pain medication prescribed after antidepressants and tricyclics.
I received a letter in the Summer explaining the review of Tramadol and that it would be taken off my prescription by the end of November unless I wanted to discuss continuing to use it.
I only take it for very specific pains as I don't find it very helpful , personally for the Fibro , but I spoke to the GP and said I did not want it removed from my repeat list because there is too much delay being able to get it on prescription when I do need it. They were fine with this.
They wouldn't even consider taking me off my other medications, and they can't without your consent and a planned change of medication or treatment if they want to remain inside the rules. If you were initially prescribed these by a Consultant their opinion overrules the choices of the GP anyway. You can also ask to speak to them on the phone via their Secretary, or email them and ask for them to tell your GP that they want you to remain on your current medications if they are helping you.
They will do this even if you are discharged , as long as you know the name of the Consultant whom originally prescribed to you.
You need to remind the GP of these rules and the fact that treating your Chronic Pain is a partnership between You and Them , they can't just take unilateral decisions or stop it without giving you time to taper of it and replace it with something else on your treatment unless they have a specific medical reason for doing so .
You can request to remain on your current medications until you have seen a Pain Clinic Specialist whom will help guide you in your other options and any tapering programme that you need. You can request these referrals.
Let us know how things go , take care , Bee
My GP said he is the prescriber not the consultant, its his decision, not hers!
Your GP is on a power trip and needs reminded he’s not god. Or you need a new GP.
If the Consultant has sent your GP recommendations for a medication that they want you to try the GP is meant to fulfill that request. The only times they are meant to refuse is if there was a serious medical reason or interaction between the new drug and an existing medication that would mean that they should contact the Consultant, inform them, and ask for them to advise an alternative.Your GP may write the actual prescription, and the cost comes out if the surgery budget , which is often why they are reluctant to have to prescribe certain drugs, but it is your Consultant whom is superior to the GP in which treatment decisions are appropriate to offer to you.
If your GP refuses to follow your Consultants suggestion ask them for the medical reason why in writing . Most will admit defeat at that point.
If they still refuse you can contact your Consultant , explain the situation and that you would still like to try or continue the treatment and ask them if they will write to the GP with a second request to the surgery to provide the prescription they have requested or contact them to sort out the issue because it is causing a delay in your treatment and improvement.
Consultants do not like to hear that GPs are ignoring their opinions and wasting their time.
You will get your treatment in the end.
Some GPs are fantastic, but others are outdated in knowledge and behaviour and so need to be politely but firmly reminded that they are not " in charge" and you are equal partners in decisions about your care ; and your treatment choices must be respected.
Hope you sort things out soon , take care , Bee
I rang my consultant left a m3ssage with secretary. Got a letter from consultant saying she makes initial prescription but it is up to GP after that, she won't get involved. In fact she said she doesn't even do follow ups after fibro diagnosis as there is no treatment and it won't change !
Ah! So not the most helpful or knowledgeable Consultant either. There may not be a " cure" fir Fibro but there are certainly treatments that can make our lives more bearable , if they'd only learn and care about it a bit more. You could always take the GP on yourself , look up which treatments you can try on the NHS in the NICE guidelines and when they should be prescribed as well as reminding them of the Consultants recommendations.
If they still refuse see another GP at the surgery for a second opinion and ask to be given a medical reason why you specifically are not receiving a prescription that is allowed on the NHS.
Explain that you want them to put that down in writing if they insist on going against the guidelines because you are really sorry but if you aren't going to be given treatments you are entitled to you will have to put in a complaint to the Local Health Board.
Its often quite helpful to take a supportive but calm friend in to the appointment with you for conversations like that as your advocate and witness.
Also request to be referred to the Pain Clinic for Chronic Pain Management course and a Consultants appointment to discuss pain treatment options for your Fibro. Those appointments take a long time but they are worth it as the Pain Clinic usually does more follow ups to see if their recommendations are working , Good Luck , Bee
Yes, I had exactly the same. I had to go on holiday to see my daughter in Singapore for a month without any pain relief except paracetamol and paramol. Both over the counter medication. One night I had a complete meltdown. I felt in despair.
Needless to say, the holiday has been challenging to say the least. I feel for you xx
I too was on Tramadol and then weaned off it by my GP despite it working for me. I then spent a few months going through hell. I was prescribed several different types of meds includiblng Ganapentin, which didnt help me, and Ropinirole which gave me horrible side effects.
Eventually I was prescribed Amitriptyline and Codeine. This combination works for me, not as well as Tramadol did, but I felt like I had no choice. I hope you will be persistant and not just suffer with whatever you are offered. Good luck
been to pain clinics twice and had the same response about chronic pain …the experts who dont live with chronic pain say pain killers don’t work ….you need a plan to gradually reduce or change doctor….best wishes
I take both those and I can categorically say they do, I'd be in agony if I didn't take them.
Can you ask to see another Doctor ?
Yes I have had same with my painkillers zomorph been told iam on dangerous dose and need to reduce slowly with help from gp and outside team iam reducing at my rate but insisted iam not going to suffer in pain so iam reducing at my rate but not been in discussion about alternative pain relief as not going to suffer maybe try talking with gp about alternative best of luck
I’m not sure how my medication will be thought of by everyone but my gp prescribes me oxycodone tablets to be taken twice a day and oxynorm liquid for breakthrough pain. The highest dose I’ve taken is 80mg twice a day, I have reduced it many times over the years but then end up being unable to function. I decided myself over a month ago to try to come off them and have managed to get down to 20mg twice a day. My gp asked about my pain levels yesterday and I told her it was just getting worse and I’m struggling and she said to see if I can cope on 20mg but if not to let her know and she will issue a new prescription. I know deep down I will need to go up again but I’m hoping to come off them all together and see how I get on. I also take gabapentin twice a day, 500mg naproxen twice a day and paracetamol. Anyone else on these meds ? They say that these painkillers don’t work for us but both my gp and myself know they do, gentle loves to everyone 🥰
My MD still has me on Tramadol and Lyrica.. Shame on your MD..
Tramadol are effective and safe if taken sensibly you should be trusted to make your own pain relief choices
I'm not a fibro sufferer but do have severe RA and Osteo arthritis. My GP going back 4 or 5 years prescribed Tramadol warning me of the side effects, the sleepiness sounded pleasant 
But, for some reason it had no effect on me or my pain in any way at all. Then as I am on blood thinners the only think left was Continuous Morphine (slow release over 24 hours per tab) and it is absolutely wonderful, I rarely feel any bad pain, my mind is more clear as no pain related stress. I appreciate it is addictive but, might be worth discussing this with your GP.
I was taken off tramadol and pregabalin/gabapentin (took both can’t remember which one stuck.) and amitriptyline and fluoxetine when I moved and changed GP.
I was a fully functioning human, driving, exercising, physiotherapy student (yr 2), working in sports as a massage therapist with a foundation degree in sports rehab.
Put on venlafaxine and cocodamol 30/500 - still fairly functional but not confident driving any more due to brain fog. Then they reduced my cocodamol to 15/500 with 28 15mg codeine for emergencies - there goes the exercise and uni and massage work.
Now they’ve taken away my codeine and I can’t even sleep cos I’m in so much pain.
Reduced to being a first aider at kids events where I just put plasters on a few times a month then spend two days in bed so I can afford to put the heating on.
I was on tramadol for years I no longer take this medication. I've been in a fibro flare up since March the GP has put me on several new medications including pregabline nefopam amitriptyline zapain and a couple of others I can't spell none of which have a really good therapeutic effect which tramadol did I am now awaiting an appointment with pain clinic .
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