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Is It Safe To Take Amitriptyline For Neuropathic Pain?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Apr 2015
Question: I AM A WHITE 64 YEAR OLD MALE-1994-2015-7 CANCERS IN REMISSION-A MIRACLE-FIRST CANCER-1994-NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA-STAGE4-GIVEN A YEAR TO LIVE. TWO YEARS LAER A SUPERB ONCOLOGIST SAVED MY LIFE WITH A PIONEER STEM CELL TRANSPLANT. FIRST CHEMO-DRUG VINCRISTNE IN CHOP TREATMENT PERMANENTLY DAMAGED NERVES IN MY FEET-NO ANTIDOTE-HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER 20 YEARSPGOAL-PAIN RELIEF. XDRUGS AND NARCOTICS PINS AND NEEDLES-VERY POOR BALANCE(5),
H ELPED FOR 19 YEARS. THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE-DOCTORS, TESTS, MEDICATIONS-VERY INCONSISTENT-THE LAST 2 MONTHS HAVE BEEN UNREAL-PROLONGED PERIODS OF SEVERE NUMBNESS(OFTEN HANDS GO NUMB IN SLEEP,-WHEN SITTING VERY NUMB PAINFUL FEET-JACK HAMMER PAIN-NEW-TINGLING, BURNING, POUNDNG, NUMBING PAIN-LIKE NEVER BEFORE-VERY UNIQUE PAIN-CT SCAN OF BRAIN-MENGIONOMA-NORMAL-TO SEE NEUROLOGIST AND LOCAL PAIN CLINIS. HAVE SPENT$300,000 ON ALTERNATIVES-TENS,ACUPUNCTURE, ULTRA SOUND, SUPPLEMENTS-20 CREAMS-BEST-EMLA-CAPS ACIUM MUCH TOO STRONG WITH MINIMAL SUCCESS. GIVE ME BACK MY LIFE. ANY IDEAS.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
yes, it's a difficult situation

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

It is really heartbreaking to know that you have conquered cancer, that too 7 of it, and now being taken apart by the stupid neuropathy. It can really be a mess.

As I could gather, you have tried almost everything. Only the pain patch remains to be tried. Have you checked your electrolytes, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium. As the pain has worsened in last 2 months (which should not, if it only old drug-induced nerve damage), I am thinking of some new precipitating facotrs.
If some of these are abnormal, then we can correct them.

Also have you tried amitryptiline? It can help neuropathic pain.

Hope this helps. Please get back to me if you have any other queries.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (7 hours later)
I TRIED AMYTRIPTYLINE YEARS AGO-N SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Ok, I understand

Detailed Answer:
Another is to try duloxetine. Have you tried that too?

And capsaicin cream?
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Indranil Ghosh

Oncologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 1712 Questions

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Is It Safe To Take Amitriptyline For Neuropathic Pain?

Brief Answer: yes, it's a difficult situation Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query. It is really heartbreaking to know that you have conquered cancer, that too 7 of it, and now being taken apart by the stupid neuropathy. It can really be a mess. As I could gather, you have tried almost everything. Only the pain patch remains to be tried. Have you checked your electrolytes, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium. As the pain has worsened in last 2 months (which should not, if it only old drug-induced nerve damage), I am thinking of some new precipitating facotrs. If some of these are abnormal, then we can correct them. Also have you tried amitryptiline? It can help neuropathic pain. Hope this helps. Please get back to me if you have any other queries. Regards