GIGI69

I'm really confused and would like your opinion



Went to my general doctor yesterday with what turned out to be trigeminal neuralgia. She put me on Neurontin. It was dulling the pain. Still had it but I was only on it for 24 hours. It was at least tolerable.



She sent me to a neuro, whom I saw today. He said Neurontin was not the best line of defense and put me on Baclofen. I'm back to severe pain (although he said it wouldn't help immediately)



Isn't Neurontin a nerve pain medicine and Baclofen a muscle relaxer? Isn't trigeminal neuralgia nerve related? Is Baclofen better than neurontin? Just doesn't make sense. I'm tempted to stop the Baclofen and go back to the Neurontin.



Another reason: pharmacist says not to take Baclofen with Zanaflex. Zanaflex does a good job with my spasticity. Baclofen isn't touching spasticity.



ANY feedback would be greatly appreciated

legzzalot

Strangley enough, I recall being on both at the same time. Baclofen doesn't work for me and it made me go through withdrawals when I stopped taking it. Whch is weird that I don't have that prob when I come off of opiate pain meds.

If the neurontin works, I say stick with it. As far as I know, baclofen is a mucle relaxer and neurontin works for nerve pain even though it is actually an anti siezure med.

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dmplaura

I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. It's really tough to find out what works for you, medicine-wise.

I see you found the T.N. board, I hope you can find some answers there.

For my 2 cents worth, I know mine's triggered mainly by birth control (Depo Provera was the worst, combination birth control pill wasn't much better). I now have a Mirena, and that seems to have resolved the mess of my cranial nerve drastically - perhaps by regulating my hormones?

I also take Clonazepam for Burning Mouth Syndrome (low dose, .75 mg daily) and Cesamet for my neuralgia pain (not T.N.) so I'm not sure if perhaps either of these medications can be thanked for keeping my acute type 1 T.N. attacks (the sharp, stabbing, throbbing, pulsing pain in the head) under control/non-existent.

I honestly believe the hormones are more so to blame in my case, and keeping them 'regulated' as such is why I'm not having such dreadful attacks now.

__________________
2004 to present - Trigeminal Neuralgia
2007 to present - Burning Mouth Syndrome
March 2008 - Multiple Sclerosis DX (Treated for 'relapse' at that time)
05/2008 - Relapse
05/2008 to 02/2009 - Copaxone
10/2011 - Relapse - Optic Neuritis developed
9/2012 - Relapse - Balance issues 1 sided
8/2012 - Erythema Nodosum, diagnosed in 10/2012

SallyC

I agree with the others, stay on the N if it's helping and drop the B..

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wkikta

The Neurontin (Gabapentin) targets the Sodium Channels in the Nerves, slowing the conduction there can reduce Seizures. It does work very well to reduce Neuropathic Pain also. The Baclofen is a Muscle Relaxant that works very well for Muscle Spasms, which can cause major pains. Since the Neurontin worked for you and the Baclofen isn't working I say go back on the Neurontin. You may find that you actually need both of them, at a fairly low dose of each. I would question your Neuro on his reasons for the switch, don't let it be dismissed.

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Aarcyn

I was on both baclofen and neurotin. I had the same understanding as you as to the purpose of each medication.

But with neurontin - this is a drug that is not to be taken when needed, it is a drug that is slowly introduced into your medical dosing routine and should be ramped down if you decide not to use it.

Verify with the pharmacist. Please be sure to consult the pharmacist/doctor before ramping up or ramping down on neurontin.

re baclofen. Did not work for me.

Give your pharmacist the name of all the drugs you are currently taking to see if there are negative reactions taking any in combination with another.

tkrik

Well, this is what I have learned and my experience . . .

Baclofen did nothing for me and gave me that hung over feeling all the time. As others have stated, Baclofen doesn't work for nerve pain.

I have been on Neurontin for 8 years now and it works great for nerve pain. Because it slows down the nerve pulses, it does help with spasticity too - however, not like muscle relaxers, but it helps. When the spasms get real bad, I take Ativan (valium is too strong for me, Flexeril gives me a bad headache, and Soma doesn't do anything).

The week I tried Baclofen, I was also taking Neurontin so you can take both of them together.

EddieF

I take 140mg Baclofen/day for spasms. Does zero for pain that I know of.

clarkstar

i have used baclofen to help my back pain before so i could sleep, it did not do much. the neurontin really helps with my ms style pain, the numbness/pins and needles on my right side come back if i am off it for a day or less...

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EMPATH64

Hello, I suffered now 6 months I have dentures Im 47. I feel like Im losing it nothing is helping. I wish you the best. Youre not alone hugs Catherine