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and the muscle relaxer is....

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Posted 1/4/2008 3:48 PM (GMT -7)
I went to my dr. today and we discussed the toe-curling cramps I have been getting.  I was also hoping to try a muscle relaxer to help me use less of my breaktheough meds.  At any rate, she put me on Parafon Forte to take 1 tab 3 times daily as needed.  I am waiting until tonight to try it to find out how it affects me.  She did also order a complete blood count and basic metabolic panel to see if maybe I have an electrolyte imbalance causing the cramps, but she believes it is from the spinal cord damage I have.
Posted 1/5/2008 12:03 PM (GMT -7)

Mochiah said...
I went to my dr. today and we discussed the toe-curling cramps I have been getting.  I was also hoping to try a muscle relaxer to help me use less of my breaktheough meds.  At any rate, she put me on Parafon Forte to take 1 tab 3 times daily as needed.  I am waiting until tonight to try it to find out how it affects me.  She did also order a complete blood count and basic metabolic panel to see if maybe I have an electrolyte imbalance causing the cramps, but she believes it is from the spinal cord damage I have.

You sound like you have a good doc!   I've heard of Parafon Forte, but didn't realize it was a muscle relaxer.  I hope you have good success with it and it's helps your pain!   :)
Posted 1/5/2008 2:07 PM (GMT -7)
The Parafon Forte worked well for my cramps last night. At first it didn't seem like it had any effect, but about an hour or so after taking it I could feel the squeezes going away, then it made feel more relaxed and a bit sleepy. I am not sure if I will be able to take it during the daytime when I have to work, so I will have to try that on my days off.
Posted 1/6/2008 1:19 PM (GMT -7)
If its pill form you might try cutting it in half. I do this with my muscle relaxer during the day. My dr does not have a problem with me doing this. Susie
Posted 1/6/2008 1:27 PM (GMT -7)
Straydog- I did just that about 15 minutes ago. I opened the bottle and noted that they are scored and it easily snapped in half. I think that will work well without making me sleepy. This will be the first time I have tried taking the medicine other than at bedtime.

Part of my plight of taking the muscle relaxer is trying to cut down on the breakthrough medicine I take. I think it is going to work for this as well. The first night I took it about an hour after I took my last BT med for the day, last night I did not take the BT med and instead tried the muscle relaxer...it worked.
Posted 1/6/2008 2:41 PM (GMT -7)
Mochiah, I have a pump and Dilaudid is the main drug in my pump. I also have 2mg Dilaudid to take for BT meds too. I stay away from the BT meds cause I just do not want to get on the merrygoround of watching a clock again. Plus, I really cannot tell I get that much relief from them. I discovered that my muscle relaxer which is Zanaflex works awesome for the pain. Its a known fact that many of us have terrible spasms and pain pills do nothing for a muscle spasm. During the day if I need to take one I split it, I have no problems staying awake or driving my car. At night I take a whole one at bedtime and it just works so much better. Susie
Posted 1/7/2008 10:42 AM (GMT -7)
Mochiah - the only thing I can say is until you have adjusted to taking the muscle relaxer - DO NOT TAKE IT AND THEN DRIVE! If you want to take it for work, wait till you get to work and then take it. I have occasionally gotten a muscle relaxer that seemed a lot stronger than the other pills, and ever after taking them for so long it feels as if it hits me much harder than the others.
Posted 1/7/2008 1:50 PM (GMT -7)
TDoern - my travel to work consists of walking to the other end of my house to my home office, so no driving going on here.

I have found that taking 1/2 works without making me drowsy.
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