Neuropathy meds

[June91]

Does anyone here take medication for neuropathy? Which one? In what way does it act?

[Cyborg]

There are several available. Two I know of are Topamax and Cymbalta.

[jjames]

I am / was on Lyrica. Since getting my BGs under control, the pain has for the most part not been as bad and is tollerable without it.


Read there and scroll down to the "Treatment" section - it talks about the different types of medicine for it and how each group works.

Neuropathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropathy)

Good luck!

[GrammyByer]

Dear June91,
I take cymbalta, 30 mgs twice a day. Mostly, the pain in my feet is gone. However, I do have some bone structure deterioration in my feet due to the neuropathy and my podiatrist is working at trying to stabilize the situation. I wear a brace type thing in my sneakers and at present, my right foor is in a cast to heal stress fractures in my foot. I have been diabetic for 36 years and after all that time, the body does have some situations. It could be worse though, I am not blind and my kidneys function well.

I hope you have success with meds!
Linda

minimed paradigm 515 pumper
last A1C 6.2

[moorejames]

Read there and scroll down to the "Treatment" section - it talks about the different types of medicine for it and how each group works.

Neuropathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropathy)

Good luck!

You might want to read this entry as well, which is specific to diabetic neuropathy:

Diabetic neuropathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_neuropathy)

[June91]

Thanks everyone for your answers!

Quote from wikipedia: None of these agents reverse the pathological processes leading to diabetic neuropathy and none alter the relentless course of the illness. They just treat the pain. So no medication for the actual neuropathy then... :(

I was also wondering if it has been definitely proved that neuropathy is not linked to diabetes in the same way as pcos, thyroid problems and other autoimmune diseases, and is only a side effect of elevated blood glucose.

[lgvincent]

I use Carbartol. It seems to make the numbness less noticable than any of the other drugs I've tried.

[PepsiLvr]

Look at the thread about Alpha Lipoic Acid. I have seen research that says that Antioxidants like Alpha Lipoic Acid can actually regrow nerves. Here is a link to a Mayo Clinic article Mayo Clinic Article (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2003-rst/1733.html)

[June91]

Thanks for the link. I've been taking Alpha Lipoic Acid, but as my symptoms appeared at random times in random sites, I can't say for sure how effective it has been.

There has also been some debate on whether the only "proper" ALA is the R (right) one, etc.

Apart from this (unverified) supplement, I was trying to find out if there is any actual MEDICATION that could help, without success.

But thanks again for the info, ALA is worth a shot.

[Mich]

I do three things for neuropathy. Two from my endo and one from my research.

Neuropathic pain for me is confined to numb toes (last wo or three on the outside of each foot) and a burning skin sensation on inside of each lower leg. My endo said these will lessen and/or disappear with a steady control. (Like any of us wish for anything else, right??) I also have another auto immune joint problem going on, so he precribed Cymbalta, 30 mg at bedtime. It seemed to help both problems.

This may be the kiss of death on this board, but one of the things suggested by Dr Bernstein in his book was a daily sustained release ALA. I started it and saw improvement in the burning skin feeling immediately--within a couple of days. I now add that to my vitamins. It is hard to find the sustained release, but health food stores generally carry it. I have been taking it for over a year and see a definite improvement.

I have noticed a definite correlation between high glucose and painful nerves.
Interestingly enough, I have also noticed that when I am low, my fingers seem to tingle more, too, which actually serves as an early warning sign for me.

Ahh, life as a science experiment...:albertein Mich