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Health

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CTyankee

(64,871 posts)
Mon Feb 1, 2016, 04:53 PM Feb 2016

I can no longer take the meds for my shingles pain... [View all]

I've reached a point where I can't tolerate the higher dosages. I'm shaky and have involuntary twitching when I lie down. I got scared and made an appt. with my neuro who is fine with my decision but says to taper off, not quit cold. He had me on Gabapenten and Percoset. He was sorry that shingles is so difficult to treat otherwise but right now I'm scared off having anything more. I'll just take Ibuprofin or plain tylenol.

In a way, I'm glad it turned out this way. So many people get addicted and can't quit without serious withdrawal. I realized I was getting less and less pain relief as I took more and then got dizzy and my hands started to shake. So my intolerance is a blessing in disguise. I'm spared a real problem that unfortunately, many others are not.

my body was clearly telling me something...

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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And, as you taper off you may find the symptoms of taking the meds are better than randys1 Feb 2016 #1
well, I have to taper off for two weeks so hopefully by that time I'll be down to very few CTyankee Feb 2016 #4
I took gabapentin for nerve pain in my legs years ago Mojorabbit Feb 2016 #34
Is it Tressors (sp?)? CTyankee Feb 2016 #36
I don''t see that on label Mojorabbit Feb 2016 #37
I took a combination of Ibuprophen (500 or 1000) PLUS Tylenol flor-de-jasmim Feb 2016 #2
How far along are you in the shingles process yeoman6987 Feb 2016 #3
this has been going on since Nov. 7, so it is more like 3 months and doc fears I am in CTyankee Feb 2016 #5
Oh my god! I wasn't expecting that answer. yeoman6987 Feb 2016 #6
well, as I said, I'm just glad I'm no longer going to be drugged and be unable to CTyankee Feb 2016 #8
You might want to look up side effects of Gabapenten dixiegrrrrl Feb 2016 #25
+1000 nt Mojorabbit Feb 2016 #35
Been there... done that, but found relief with acupuncture. procon Feb 2016 #20
Acupuncture is effective for shingles. nt bananas Feb 2016 #32
There is a minor bit of good news about post herpetic neuralgia Warpy Feb 2016 #22
I will ask my neuro about those... CTyankee Feb 2016 #29
It's a two hour procedure that has to be done under local anesthesia Warpy Feb 2016 #33
I'm still post-herpatic and I had shingles in 1994. Laffy Kat Feb 2016 #23
Ask your doc about taking magnesium dorkzilla Feb 2016 #7
magnesium has an unwanted laxative effect on me which I don't need right now...but CTyankee Feb 2016 #10
Totally understand dorkzilla Feb 2016 #12
I don't know whether this would be helpful or whether you might already snagglepuss Feb 2016 #9
what he recommended will take me off faster than that and I'm glad... CTyankee Feb 2016 #11
Oh golly, yank, you could write a BOOK, elleng Feb 2016 #13
I wouldn't want to revisit it enough to write it...I should start a support group, tho... CTyankee Feb 2016 #15
Have you tried medical marijuana? femmedem Feb 2016 #14
I was wondering about that but I am not sure of CT laws about it... CTyankee Feb 2016 #16
Here's a bit about it in Conn: elleng Feb 2016 #17
the only thing is I don't know if this is "medically approved" or not...I think my neuro would have CTyankee Feb 2016 #18
Not necessarily. I have friends with conditions on the approved list femmedem Feb 2016 #24
For people reading this, talk to your physician about the Shingle Vaccine. A friend NCjack Feb 2016 #19
I am so sorry, CTyankee. brer cat Feb 2016 #21
thank you brer cat, I appreciate your support... CTyankee Feb 2016 #30
I'm sorry to hear how the pharmaceutical industry has failed you. malokvale77 Feb 2016 #26
So sorry you are still suffering, CTyankee. femmocrat Feb 2016 #27
What antiviral are you taking for the shingles? I thought the sinkingfeeling Feb 2016 #28
too late for that. I was on pain meds, gapatenin and percoset. CTyankee Feb 2016 #31
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