What medication do you take now?

[Andy]

I recall a huge amount of meds I was on whilst in the acute stages of my SCI, now my meds are as follows

baclofen (oral) 20 mg daily

amytriptiline 25mg - although usually given as antidepressant I've found it very good at relieving hypersensitivity on my arms chest and legs

tamulosin/flomax 100mg daily - bladder relaxant

I also take a herbal horse chestnut extract which seems to aid circulation and fluid retention

[Apparelyzed]

I just  have a baclofen pump now, but no oral meds. 

Simon

[mttb14]

Hi All,

John takes the following tablets, mostly due to the chronic pain, he has tried to cut down on them due to liver damage problems, but he is monitored by the Liver speacialist every 3 to 6 months depending on the liver readings taken by blood tests.

Oxycontin 20 mg  -  slow release high opiate based pain killer -  works on the back ground pain

Paracetamol 500 mg  -  for immediate pain control  -  he tries to cut down on these

Tramadol  -  lower dose opiate for immediate pain control

Baclofen  -  muscle spasms

Ananolol  -  Blood pressure tablet - he has had autonomic dysreflexia twice - keeping his blood pressure down

Bendrofluazide  -  Blood pressure tablet

Diclofenac  -  75 mg Slow release anti inflammatory

Amytriptiline 10 mg upto 100mg  -  he has found that about 35 mg is enough to numb the nerves and convince his brain that he isn't in pain, which allows him to sleep for a few undisturbed hours.  He does not take them as an antidepressant, he has them for chronic pain and to help with sleep.

He is still in massive amounts of pain even with these tablets, but without them he cannot move around and the muscle spasms are horrendous.

Maria

[Andy]

Amytriptiline 10 mg upto 100mg  -  he has found that about 35 mg is enough to numb the nerves and convince his brain that he isn't in pain, which allows him to sleep for a few undisturbed hours.  He does not take them as an antidepressant, he has them for chronic pain and to help with sleep.

I made the mistake of taking Amytriptiline while lying down, I didn't swallow it completely and it must have stayed in my throat causing burning and horrible discomfort for around three hours.  I always take it now sitting up with plenty of water

[mttb14]

Hi Andy,

He always takes them about an hour or 2 before bed, and always whilst sitting up.

A broken bit of one stayed on his tongue once, and he said his tongue felt numb and it was a horrid experience, so he takes them with plenty to drink.

Do you find they make you lethargic the following morning, as if just lifting your head of the pillow is too much of an effort.  Anything over 35 mg does that to John, when he is really bad and has taken 50 mg or more he has slept for nearly 2 days, but sometimes his body needs that due to the spasms and chronic pain.  I just leave him sleep until they wear off and the drug induced forced rest, does help him ease out of the worst pain he suffers.  He just hates the fact that he misses days of his life through being out of it.

Maria

[Andy]

I only take 25mg at night and don't now see any tiredness etc .... but more would definately whack me out