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this is so common with FMS 1 drug works wonders for 1 persn and wont for another person . some of the drugs here in Australia are not available hee that is mentioned here POOH

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KateT1969,

I feel you! The Canadian government doesn't approve as many medications as the American FDA. Even the ones that they do approve are usually a little different in dosage.

But like you said, one person's miracle drug is another person's bad side effect.

We'll find something that works for us. : )

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In the 23 years I have had the diag of FM and Arthritis. I had a Dr who gave me Lorcet 10/650 for ten years. Then he moved from OH to IN. Since then no Dr will prescribe it and I have went downhill. I take Lyrica/Cymbalta/Flexaril/Advil/Excedrin/Welbutrin/ Klonopin and high blood pressure meds.. All which could be replaced by the Lorcet. However, I've seen two drs since my docs departure and they will not listen to me. I went off the Lorcet 10/650 4x a day in one week so I'm not going to Betty Ford if they give it to me. AAAGGGHHH. I am so discouraged. Even my pain mgt specialist and Rhematologist refuse to prescribe. Is this common in the Central Ohio area or everywhere in the
states. I cannot control my pain and am slowly destrying my liver just so I can continue living. 4 advil twice a day with excedrin for breakthough pain. How ridiculous it just takes the edge off the pain... Doctors are NOT GODS.... Any suggestions????

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Is it possible there is some new information about Lorcet that would cause concern for your health and maybe that is why no one else will prescribe it?

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Have you by chance tried Tramadol or the brand name is Ultram. It is technically an opiod like Hydrocodone/Vicodin but it is classified as an "atypical" opiod. All this really means is that it is supposed to have the same pain relief quailities as the Hydrocodone/Vicodin but not as many of the side effects such as addiction. The good part also is that it comes in an extended release form as well as the one you would have to take several times a day. You may want to discuss this with your doctor if you think this may be a good choice for you. Hope this helps. Best Regards.

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for years i've been taking flexiril a muscle relaxer but i'm just used to it and it doesn't work at times. but my hydrocodone 7.5/500 works good! i've done the corotsone shots to the neck but it broke me out in a rash. i'm going to check out an herbalist because i don't like to get depenedent on the hydrocodone.

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Be careful of the time release capsules.

I take Naproxen for pain, it works for flare ups, but not so much as an everyday. It is supposed to last 12 hours, for me it only lasts about six.

I told my doctor this, so he gave me Naprelan - Naproxen sustained-release tablets. I don't know what's in them but within 30 minutes of taking one tablet I was presenting like I had an infection: trembling, cold sweats, head ache, racing heart, blurred vision, nausea, confusion, neck pain. I went straight to my doctor and he said, "Go home, drink lots of fluids, and rest, if you break into a fever go directly to the emergency room."

It was not fun. Luckily I didn't get a fever but I never took those tablets again either!

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btw I didn't have any other medications in my system at the time.

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A mix of Lyrica,Cymbalta, and an opioid for breakthru pain would be my suggestion of a good med regiment for FMS. Lyrica sounds to me like a good choice for FMS patients as long as they aren't allergic to it. Cymbalta 30-60mgs a day for nerve pain as well as depression. An opioid like Vicoden or Percocet would be good for breakthru pain.

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I have been on Lyrica for about 2 months and I gained 20 pounds. No thanks. Also, my daughter calls my Lyrica my "Coors Lite" pills as they make me goofy. I was on Cymbalta but the combination of Lyrica and Cymbalta together REALLY made me goofy. So, I got off the Cymbalta. I need to call my Dr. and discuss meds with her. Does anyone feel their Dr. doesn't know how to manage the pain either? or is it just my dr.? I just what relief like all of us have stated. Does exercise help anybody?

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A chronic pain specialist or a pain management specialist will do just that.

Exercise is important because if we don't do it (and let us all remember even doing housework can be exercise) then we lose the ability to do everyday things with less pain at an accelerated rate.

Remember to do something low impact: water aerobics, tai chi, so that you don't overwork yourself. Researchers have been able to observe FM patients on a cellular level and they have found that we do not utilize oxygen properly in our muscles, this results in more lactic acid in our muscles with little exertion. Lactic acid is what gives you that "burn" when your muscles start to feel fatigued at the end of your work out and the days following.

Exercising is important, and it is still true what they say, "No pain, no gain." (Even for those of us with FM) We just feel that pain more acutely and with less effort. The thing is though, exercise keeps our heart and our bodies healthy. It keeps all our parts moving and bending properly. It helps us to prevent injury and helps with sleep/insomnia. It's a great stress reliever and it releases endorphins which make you happy.

It isn't easy, believe me! I don't exercise half as much as I should. I've been struggling with it, now knowing why I always felt SO much pain after a light, short routine. I though I was dying because I certainly wasn't out of shape. Now I understand.

I've been doing research and trying to figure out the best way. I would love to do water aerobics and I talked to my doctor about it. She cautioned me about it though because chlorine aggravates our symptoms. The salt water pools aren't cheap to swim at.

Tai Chi seems like a great alternative. A DVD can cost $20.00, you can do it in the comfort of your own home, and it is also a form of meditation.

You can do research on it too, there are so many options! : )

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That also works the best for me and my doctor,(a woman doctor) writes my prescription for 150 a month. I don't know why some doctors are so reluctant to prescribe this drug. Maybe they or one of their family members should be in as much pain as all of us are and then maybe they would be more smphathic. I suggest you find a doctor that is smypathetic to your pain. They are out ther as I have had 2 different doctors treat me with Vicoden and they had no problem with it. Good luch girl.

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OH, I totally ruined my stomach and esophagus with the NSAIDs. When will someone out there finally realize that we are not a bunch of junkies but are in major pain here. I now take Vicoden and my doctor (a woman doctor) prescribes it for me with no problem.

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My daughter tried the Savella and she said it is the first time in years she has been pain free. She loved it. Unfortunatly, she has depression and the Sevella could not be taken with the drugs that she took for depression. As if that alone didn't make her more depressed. I was so sad for her. She is 35 and has 3 kids, and a wonderful, understanding hubby, so she is blessed in that respect.

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Thank you for this info.I also take Vicoden and was told that Soma would help. But at the time I had to work and was afraid that it would make me drowsy so I didn't ask for it. Now I just got laid off so maybe I will ask my doc if he will prescribe it for me. Thank you again.

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For sleeping you can go to your healthfood store and ask about Melatonin. Do a google search and find out more info about it. Hope it helps you.

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Well for what it's worth. My daughter started Sevella and it really helped but after one week she had to stop because she was also taking an antidepressent and you can't take Sevella with it. At least that is what she was told. She was sad as the Sevella started working right away.

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I totally understand the part about having lots of energy and feeling great....and then the flare up. I used to tell my husband it was like someone took a syringe and injected my body with poison and it had taken over my whole body. I have always had lots of energy and am a very up person, but when I have the days that are unbearable, I wonder which person I really am. Bizarr, oh definetly!!

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Vicoden is the only thing that works for me. It is unconsionable that doctors prefer to let some people suffer,(they should have this pain for 1 day) maybe then they would know what it's like to not only be in pain, but to have a doctor totally disregard what you are up against. The same strictness about Vicodin is also the rule her in Calif. but my doctor is so wonderful, she understands what I need to help my pain.

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Doctor's reluctance to prescribe narcotics is not due to them preferring to let someone suffer in pain. There are a great many doctors out there who are concerned about lawsuits due to overdose or addiction. Granted there are a lot of doctors out there who don't know what Fibromyalgia (FM) is and many more who just push the patients through as quickly as possible, but they are not intentionally causing excess suffering. We all have a choice to find a new doctor if we feel the one we have is not treating us properly.

Also, there is limited evidence that narcotics are helpful with the pain of FM. There is so little known about FM to begin with that even the doctors who are aware of it find it difficult to treat effectively.

In addition, it is a well known fact that what works well for one FM patient often doesn't for another, and many have serious adverse reactions.

Our doctors are not "know-it-alls". We have to take some responsibility for our health and pain management. Especially when it comes to an invisible dis-ease such as FM.

Narcotics are not just addictive, they have acetaminophen added to them which can cause liver damage. There is research out there suggesting that FM patients have reduced liver function, while only at a sub-clinical level (meaning the abnormality does not appear on any diagnostic tests), because we are so sensitive to pretty much everything thanks to central nervous system, it would be wise to be hesitant to prescribe a drug that hasn't been proven effective.

If the risks outweigh the benefits, why should a doctor prescribe you narcotics, or any other medication for that matter?

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