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Meds That Aggravate Fibro?

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Posted 5/17/2011 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
has anyone had experiences with meds that make their fibro worse? my doc has been experimenting with meds lately, trying to get me away from "addictive" medications, and i have had some really nasty effects (even after the two-week "adjustment" period). in most cases, the worst effect is increased FM pain, muscle cramps, and so on, though a couple of times i've had really bad reactions (e.g. serious respiratory and BP problems). i know everyone's different; there are some meds that really help me but make it worse for another person and vice versa. i'm just hoping to get a better idea of what's fibro-related, what's possibly related to my other health problems, and what's "just me".

thanks

smurf
Posted 5/17/2011 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Samik~

Wow, that's a really good question! Since we don't know much about fibro it's darn hard to tell if something is making it worse or if another episode in our body is acting up. Like you say...switching medicines is mighty tricky with fibro but is your pain increase from the medication or from your system trying to adjust or from stress or whatever. Then again, any of those 'insults' to the body can increase your fibro pain.

I'm someone who does NOT like change one bit. I'm mostly talking day to day activities. I have a routine and prefer to stick to it but things like doctor appointments and getting groceries now and then just seem to get in my way. ;-) Any time my schedule gets shifted, especially if it's last minute, my pain goes wild.

I guess I didn't answer your question because I really don't have one. Just a few thoughts and personal experience on my part.

Hope this helps ... somewhat~
Chutz
Posted 5/17/2011 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Samik, there is a med that I use when I'm flaring...Flexeril, it does add to the fatigue factor. I do not drive when I'm on it. It may make me sleepy but it does take the edge off the pain.

It is crazy that many of the possible side effects of the meds sound worse than what we use them to treat. In the past I tried Cymbalta for fibro and had bad side effects. I've been using Savella for two years with no side effects. I've been lucky:)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 5/17/2011 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
OK my dr just told me this...now I got to recall exactly what it was. OK I know it was no advil/ibuphrofen with my etodolac because that would actually make the pain worse. However, there was another drug I am not on that is mixed with advil also makes pain worse..think think think....sorry blank slate :/ If I remember I will let you konw....
I know neurotin (sp) mde my back pain worse when I took it.
Posted 5/17/2011 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I take adderall and it makes the fibro a little worse because of it being a stimulant. But I would rather have a little pain than all that fatigue. So it works for me. And they say that the narcotics make you depressed. So it is a viscous cycle. I guess. It is like with all the side effects, maybe eliminate one at a time. See what happens. But you wonder if you went off of them all, maybe everything would be normal. lol... I know that isn't possible. But many meds do have side effects, I guess it is what we can tolerate. Some meds such as antidepressants, the side effects go away after a couple of weeks. And it takes the meds six to eight weeks to reach their full potential. So a lot of it is patience. I hope that you find what works for you.

Hugs, Karen

PS  With fibromyalgia, it is often hard to find out what is "just us".  I guess we have to accept the fact that it is us now.  I am sure that you have a lot of questions as to what is what.  But eventually you will just go with the day and live.  Try not to analyze too much.  For some reason it just leads to more questions.  Have a good day!!!

Posted 5/17/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Samik, I've been taking Cymbalta for about 6 weeks now... some brutal side effects at first, but worked through them until most of them stopped... mainly becuase the Fibro pain and anxiety was so reduced with taking it. I have learned through other forum members postings that Cymbalta should not be taken with any migraine medications... like Immitrex which I have taken in the past for migraines. The interactions between the two can cause real problems and a possible fatal response called Serotonin Syndrome. You can find multiple sites describing that condition and symptoms. I haven't found that any of the other medications that I take cause any problems. Hope this helps... if not you, then maybe another forum member.
Good luck.
Kristin
Posted 5/17/2011 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
NSAIDS lower your brain levels of GABA a inhibitory amino-acid neurotransmitter and it can cause more spasmmodic reactions and sensitizes your pain perception.
Posted 5/17/2011 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

spinal soldier said...
NSAIDS lower your brain levels of GABA a inhibitory amino-acid neurotransmitter and it can cause more spasmmodic reactions and sensitizes your pain perception.

Does this mean that my increased advil intake is making my spasms worse, not better? I've been taking Advil a lot more lately and having a lot more spasms also.

Sorry, I don't read "med lingo", so I may be totally off!
Posted 5/18/2011 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Antidepressants make my fog much, much worse.
Posted 5/18/2011 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I 2nd what gettingby said about Adderall. Helps with the fatigue a bit, but then I had tremendous difficulty sleeping at night, which was already a major issue for me (along with my chronic fatigue) so the last think I needed was insomnia due to the Adderall. That said, I'm considering going back on it for a variety of reasons- maybe a lower dosage will cut down on the insomnia side effect!
Posted 5/19/2011 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
that is why I am afraid of meds. i can't have anything that will cause respiratory problems since I had respiratory failure in the past
Posted 10/3/2013 10:04 AM (GMT 0)
I have had this happen numerous times.

I Initially had the medication Topomax GIVE me Fibro way back in 2000. then 4 years later, I had the pain medicine Duragesic (fentanyl) greatly amplify my pain, and also give me severe chronic fatigue, disabling me. This was seemingly permanent as its been well over 8 years now since it happened.

I have had some issues with getting dental shots for fillings also amplify may pain. Along with another dosing of fentanyl, even after i told the surgeons that I was allergic to duragesic.

I have been looking for similar cases to mine for years, as its apparently very rare as i have only found one other similar case aside from the OP.

I realize this is a few years old but hopefully someone else who has experiences this might see it.
Posted 10/4/2013 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Chris. Welcome!

That's quite a story you've got there! I've heard of this happening, but not quite to this degree. Weird what medicines can do to us, huh?

Since this is a really old thread, as you said, why don't you start a new one, introducing yourself, putting something like "newbie" in the title? You'd probably be more noticed that way, and get more replies...

Debbie
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