Nefopam?

[RonSton7]

I had a video consultation with my pain management doctor and one of the recommendations he made was to prescribe nefopam. He said this would be an as needed medication and I could take it up to 3 times per day in addition to my other pain meds (baclofen 10mg 3 times per day, paracetamol / dihydrocodeine 1000 / 60 4 times a day, gabapentin 3600mg per day.

Has anyone had any experience with nefopam? I am taking pain medication for cervical stenosis with trapped nerves at c5 / c6 / c7 that I have been waiting for acdf surgery for 16 months..

[Hidden]

Hi Ron, are you still waiting for your operation I hope you get in soon . I can't answer your question about Nefopam for pain but it's worth a try to reduce the amount of pain you get. Clive.

[RonSton7 in reply to Hidden]

Cheers Clive, yep still waiting and like you said worth a shot, although the volume and duration that I've been on painkillers is worrying me a bit. I've also gained a lot of weight and it's getting harder to shift. I'm a big lad anyway so can't imagine that makes neck surgery any easier.

How are you healing mate?

[Emma2017]

Hi, only experience I had with nefopam was in hospital. It helped with the pain but made me hallucinate. But it’s worth a try. I also found that pregabalin works better for me than gabapentin.

[RonSton7 in reply to Emma2017]

Thanks Emma - I asked about switching to pregabalin but the pain management doc said it would be pointless. He said the massive dose of gabapentin I'm already on would mean the receptors would be saturated (I assume gabapentin and pregabalin work on the same receptors)

Thanks for the input though

[Emma2017 in reply to RonSton7]

Don’t know about that one. I just know that mg wise you take a lot less in pregabalin as it is a stronger drug even though it’s from the same family. It was my pain specialist who suggested it due to eye problems and I found it works much better. I also was on tramadol for a while which did help but still feel that for the referred pain pregabalin is the best (I heard that pregabalin is more expensive than gabapentin which is why they will always put you on gab first).

[RonSton7 in reply to Emma2017]

Pregabalin is supposed to be the stronger drug, but I also suspect that its down to cost as its more expensive. I wished really that I could have switched to pregabalin and dropped gabapentin, rather than add yet another drug, but I've asked a few times about it and been refused each time. I had eyesight problems and mild hallucinations when I started gabapentin also but they have cleared up now.

My other concern is that I've been in resuss several times with severe anaphylaxis - an allergic reaction that for me affects my throat so that it starts to swell shut and stops me breathing. Most times the cause has been due to new drugs, so later on today I'll have to take the nefopam and wait near the hospital for a few hours to see if I get a reaction. Makes me quite anxious!

[Emma2017 in reply to RonSton7]

For me the eye problem was quite severe as in I could not see properly so they urgently switched me to pregabalin. Nefopam can have quite strong reactions, I never had as strong a reaction to a drug as that one so you might be wise to stay near the hospital. Maybe just press on them once more the fact that you really would like to switch to pregabalin. Are you on the waiting list for an op?

[RonSton7 in reply to Emma2017]

It scary having eyesight problems, mine weren't severe but I really struggled to read anything.

Yes been waiting for 16 months now. Had originally been due for the op in January after pre-op in November. That got delayed until April, then the C word hit. Have been told that I've not been forgotten, but now told it will be at least another 9 months. Up until December 2019 I was still going to the gym, now I can hardly walk or feel much in my left arm and leg, but still I am not a priority. Totally get that coronavirus is the top priority at the moment, but I live in the south west and the hospitals haven't been impacted here anywhere near like they have elsewhere. Guess it's just going to be a waiting game..

[Emma2017 in reply to RonSton7]

Oh man that’s rough. I don’t know why everything else has been completely sidelined. I get it that Covid is a terrible thing and would not wish it on anybody. But I feel that it might have been an idea if some hospitals had been Covid only while others could have dealt with non Covid with the exemption of possibly London and hotspots as they arose. I saw that the south west hardly was affected. Hope you get seen to earlier. Make sure you keep alert regarding worsening symptoms and cauda equine. I had slow onset CE and was ok, sort of, but the sudden one gives you only a 24 to 48 hour window. Take care.

[KJMiller in reply to RonSton7]

That’s so interesting because my doctor just told me that they work a little bit differently. If one doesn’t work well you should switch to The other. This is from one of the top pain specialist in Arizona.

[Entela15]

I took nefopam last year but it didn't work for me.

[RonSton7 in reply to Entela15]

Thank you for your reply - do you remember what dose and how long you were on it for?

[Entela15 in reply to RonSton7]

I can't remember the dose but was on it for a few months. I made the mistake of stopping it at once and I paid dearly for it. My pain levels went through the roof. I don't discourage you to try it. We're all different. Hope you have better luck with it. X

[Konagirl60]

I can’t help you. I’ve never used that medication.

I pray you get your much needed surgery soon.

[RonSton7 in reply to Konagirl60]

Thank you x

[Kels1974]

Hi Ron Nefopam is the only painkiller that helps me, it helps with my nerve pain.I take 3x 30mg pills 3 times a day which my doctor says is the maximum dose.

[RonSton7 in reply to Kels1974]

Thank you for that. Have you been on it long? Do you get any side effects? Started yesterday at a similar dose, so far felt quite sick, a little drowsy and eyesight is slightly affected. Nothing too severe but the nausea is unpleasant.

[Kels1974 in reply to RonSton7]

I've been on it 3 years now I don't have any major side effects,my mouth gets a little dry but that is all.