Advice on taking Nefopam please

Hi,

I have fibromyalgia- diagnosed last year. I also have depression and anxiety. The fibro pain has been getting worse daily for at least a year now. I’ve been taking 30mg/500mg cocodomol which didn’t help so have weaned off of that on dr’s advice, tried naproxen..helped for around a week and then pain back as bad as ever. I’ve now been given Nefopam and also have been advised to try a tens machine. Just going by today, the tens machine at quite a high level helped at the time it was on my body...I’ve had 2 of the 3 a day prescribed of Nefopam 30mg tablets and so far am not feeling any pain relief whatsoever. If you have experience of taking this or can share your experience with me, I’d be really grateful. Is it supposed to be an instant pain relief or is it cumulative? Also the dr said it was just the first he was going to try me on, and if it didn’t help he would basically do trial and error with me. He also advised that I come off my perindropil for 7 days in the unlikely event that this drug could maybe be causing the pain, but he doesn’t believe it has. I, just like everyone here, just want some decent pain relief so I can just feel normal again... any help would be very much appreciated, thanks

[Hidden]

Hi

I'm sorry I haven't tried this one. I bought a chair/seat massager off Amazon. It's brilliant. It's for my back, bum and thighs, it does help, it's also got heat with it. Please take care Lynne

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for your help, I did find that the tens machine helped for the 15 mins I had it on, just need to get proper meds sorted now 😞, here’s hoping, take care x

[Robto in reply to Hidden]

Is your type Tens machine reprogrammed with programs and 15 minutes?

The reason I ask is because I had the same benefit as you, it only felt better during the 15 minute cycle.

Then, a physiotherapist suggested getting one you can self program, that is to a machine that can change the type from a constant, intermittent to moving the action up and down in cycles. Change the level of current and move to longer time span (ie from 15mins-hours)

Once you've fiddled about with all of that, then, hopefully you will start to feel better for a longer period after you have used it.

It works for me, then again I use it in the evening for 3-4 hours!

Hope it will work on you, too.

[Hidden in reply to Robto]

Thank you, yes the one I have has to be used in 15 min intervals, and a maximum of 30 mins a day...which as you know, makes little difference. If I could use it longer, it would definitely be a help I think x

[Moggie40]

I have been given nefopam to use when in a flare . Honestly 0 helps with the pain . Have you spoken to your pain management clinic? Xx

[Hidden in reply to Moggie40]

Hi, just 3 different drs....seem to be getting nowhere. After taking 3 Nefopam yesterday, I ended up being awake the whole night...so along with it not helping with the pain... it gave me insomnia..😞 really don’t know what to do. Definitely not taking any more Nefopam though x

[Amkoffee]

You don't mention your age or gender. It is possible that you were misdiagnosed. If you're 50 or older it may be Polymyalgia Rheumatica. PMR does not respond to analgesics. Or it could be inflammatory arthritis (includes rheumatoid arthritis). Can effects any age. Did your doctor do a blood test to check for inflammation? There are 2 tests typically done. A sed rate (ESR) and a c-reactive protein (CRP). These are used to identify PMR and then there is another test done to look for inflammatory arthritis.

[Hidden in reply to Amkoffee]

Many thanks for this, I’m female and 51. The dr did mention a few days ago about the blood test so I’ll definitely follow up with that x

[Amkoffee in reply to Hidden]

I was 54 when I was diagnosed. Some doctors who don't much about it will tell you you have to be older but that simply isn't true.

[Emma2017]

Nefopam was tried in the hospital on me but it made me hallucinate so had to come of it and was put on dihydrocodeine which helped quite well.

[Hidden in reply to Emma2017]

Thanks, I’ll mention that to the dr x

[Entela15]

I tried nefopam and it didn't touch the pain.

[Hidden in reply to Entela15]

Yep, me too....and when it then affected my sleep, I thought what’s the point..

[Entela15 in reply to Hidden]

If you decide to stop it please do it gradually. I stopped it at once and suffered bad withdrawal symptoms.

[Hidden]

Thank you, I only took the 3 tablets and checked the half life so it should be out my system, but yeah decided these are a no-no for me x

[MjM2015]

Have you tried Gabapentin along with Naproxen... it may take a while to fine the correct combination of drugs that help.

[Hidden in reply to MjM2015]

I will ask about this, she did mention the babe-entire before. Thank you x

[RobbieT]

I'm on low dose fentanyl patch for fibro. Endep for anxiety & depression. Tramal 50mg for breakthrough pain (every day - but I do have bulging disc, sciatica & arthritis in back). Also take oesteopanadal. Constant battle with doctors to keep on fentanyl. Another coming up tomorrow when I go for new script!

[WendyDon in reply to RobbieT]

hello Robbie, what is Endep？

[RobbieT in reply to WendyDon]

I copied & pasted this information:

Amitriptylinee Medicinal Description

Endep belongs to a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). TCA medicines work by correcting the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called amines, are involved in controlling mood. By correcting this imbalance, TCAs can help relieve the symptoms of depression.

nps.org.au › endep-tabl...

Endep - NPS MedicineWise

This helps me sleep as otherwise I just toss & turn with the pain & my depression rears its ugly head.

[BadHare]

FM is almost identical in symptoms to hypothyroidism. Has your GP tested you for thyroid hormone deficiencies? The hormone T3, that all our body’s cells need, is often low in many people diagnosed with FM, but your GP or medical region may refuse to test for this as there are issues with having it prescribed.

It’s essential for our hormone & general health to have good micronutrient levels for wellbeing. Taking magnesium which is commonly deficient in people may alleviate some if your symptoms. Taking bisglycinate or chelated magnesium at bedtime with water on an empty stomach may help. Taking a bedtime bath soak with Mg hexahydrate crystals or Epsom salts (500g) is a nice & relaxing way to absorb Mg. There are transdermal skin sprays but I find they sting. Also essential are good levels of iron & ferritin (the iron storage protein in our blood), vitamins D, B complex especially B12 & B6 (folate). You may be prescribed vitamin D, hopefully D3 (cholecalciferol) but it’s likely a low dose. If you have had any blood tests done, get copies from your practice to see if you need to supplement these or request they be tested once it’s practical to visit your surgery.

Please take a look at Thyroid UK’s HU forum for more information regarding this condition. Taking pain medication & antidepressants, & all the toxic pharmaceuticals that GPs hand out is not beneficial, potentially harmful, & will only mask the symptoms whilst giving you more or worse. I consider the help from this forum to be life changing, though it can be an uphill battle with doctors (GPs & endocrinologists) to get adequate help. Many of us need to self-medicate, & many have blood tests done privately when their doctors are unhelpful due to ignorance. Many people find excluding all gluten or dairy products helps them feel better, or increasing stomach acid levels to improve absorption. There are many things to try to help reduce the negative effects of hypothyroidism which is commonly caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This us diagnosed by checking thyroid antibodies. It’s not a quick or easy fix to treat hypothyroid symptoms as with any autoimmune disease, & it’s unfortunate that doctors don’t spot the signs. I don’t have Hashimoto’s but it took years with several hiccoughs to ameliorate my FM symptoms but it’s been worth the effort & I’ve learned a lot from this forum.

[BadHare in reply to BadHare]

healthrising.org/blog/2019/... Posted recently by one of the excellent admins on TUK.

[Stobban]

Yea, If your doctor is fairly well briefed in analgesics he will start off with a lower strength painkiller, which he has already done with co-codamol and slowly introduced a more potent tablet. Some work, some don't. Fibromyalgia is a painful malady and it's a trial and error thing with a painkiller that hopefully will take effect to ease the continual pain. I have taken pain medication for 20 years for a long standing ailment and now, more than half that time, get relief that lets me live a decent life. Good Luck.

[subzerotemps]

Nefopam did work on some of pain for me, but had to drop it due to awful side effects. I'd say if not instant then give up.