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Suggest Treatment For Extreme Fatigue And Lethargy
Question: I have been going to a pain clinic for a year and a half now. They prescribe me 4mg Suboxone and I take a half to one a day. 90% Of the time i only take a half one a day. So about six months ago i start experiencing extreme fatique/lethargy and i nod out ALL day long at work and while driving as well. Last month my doctor mentioned putting me on Provigil but he kind of got sidetracked when he seen my xrays of my lower lumbar. He said that i have pre stages of a herniated disc and when i go back in April I am supposed to be talking to someone about getting injections every month...honestly my back doesnt hurt at all Im more worried about getting hurt at work or wrecking my car from this chronic nodding out is there anything you can prescribe me or help me with?
Brief Answer:
change of drug to a less sedating one
Detailed Answer:
Dear,
Welcome to HCM.
As I can understand from your information
1) You are suffering from chronic pain. For which, you have been prescribed Suboxone 4mg a day.
2) Your chief complaint is of excessive sedation and fatigue during day.
3) An herniated lumbar disc.
My suggestions for you
1) The sedation that you are suffering could most possibly be due to suboxone, as it is known to be a sedative. Here, I would suggest you to consult your treating doctor for a change in medicine. A less sedative pain relieving drug can be tried. Discontinuation of suboxone again can be cumbersome, as is causes strong dependence, and therefore a proper tapering schedule needs to be followed in order to wean off it.
2) A detailed information regarding the pain for which you had been prescribed this med need to be known by me in order to suggest you an alternative drug. You can followup here with further information of your original pain condition.
3) If you have been found to have herniated disc and suggested to see an orthopaedic, I strongly suggest to consult your local orthopaedic as an herniated disc causes chronic distressing back pain and may cause leg weakness if not addressed timely. An MRI lumbar spine can be done as it can yield accurate result.
4) Avoid driving under sedation.
We shall continue this discussion further. Kindly follow up here with the requested information regarding your pain condition and if any other queries.
Regards.
change of drug to a less sedating one
Detailed Answer:
Dear,
Welcome to HCM.
As I can understand from your information
1) You are suffering from chronic pain. For which, you have been prescribed Suboxone 4mg a day.
2) Your chief complaint is of excessive sedation and fatigue during day.
3) An herniated lumbar disc.
My suggestions for you
1) The sedation that you are suffering could most possibly be due to suboxone, as it is known to be a sedative. Here, I would suggest you to consult your treating doctor for a change in medicine. A less sedative pain relieving drug can be tried. Discontinuation of suboxone again can be cumbersome, as is causes strong dependence, and therefore a proper tapering schedule needs to be followed in order to wean off it.
2) A detailed information regarding the pain for which you had been prescribed this med need to be known by me in order to suggest you an alternative drug. You can followup here with further information of your original pain condition.
3) If you have been found to have herniated disc and suggested to see an orthopaedic, I strongly suggest to consult your local orthopaedic as an herniated disc causes chronic distressing back pain and may cause leg weakness if not addressed timely. An MRI lumbar spine can be done as it can yield accurate result.
4) Avoid driving under sedation.
We shall continue this discussion further. Kindly follow up here with the requested information regarding your pain condition and if any other queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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