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nerve pain meds that wont cause weight gain?

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Posted 8/24/2007 9:49 AM (GMT -8)
I had bad luck with Tricyclics and weight gain.  its too bad because they worked.  i didnt even eat more, it just slowed my metabolism i guess.  but i gained nearly 20 pounds in a short time.  THen switched to Gapapentin and got less releif.  i started exercising and dieting but cant lose weight, and i'm supspecting the Gabapentin is starting to make me put on pounds as well.  i dont even have an elevated appetite.  Now i want to try something else becuse i cant keep letting this weight gain happen.  there are lots of overweight people in my family who really struggle, so i need to stay healthy.  i'm beside myself though.  I need these kind of meds, but cant afford to gain weight.  i'm not trying to be vain, i jsut dont want my depression to get worse because of my horrible self image.  By the way, i have interstitial cystitis and Pudendal neuralgia, and normal OTC pain relievers dont touch it, and niether do opiates really.  Tramadol does work occasionally but i dont know how healthy it is to take around the clock.  i'm only 24 and i already hate life!  I really need releif because i have a sitting office job and it hurts to sit :(
Posted 8/24/2007 7:50 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Spoony and welcome!! I'm so sorry that your meds are giving you such misery. I do understand. Tried those same meds. Not only did I start gaining unwanted weight but they didn't relieve any pain! arrrggghhhhhh!!!!

I hope someone comes by and has some suggestions for you. But either way I want you to feel very welcome here!

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 8/25/2007 5:13 PM (GMT -8)
Have you tried Lyrica? It is similar to gabapentin in action. It does list weight gain as a possible side effect but that does not occur in everyone.

I have been taking gabapentin for 3.5 years. In that time I have lost over 40 pounds. Gabapentin does cause fluid retention. I have found that if I watch my salt intake and drink plenty of fluids, I do not retain water from it. I have to take Tramadol with my Neurontin to get effective pain relief. I have been taking the gabapentin-traadol combo for over 2 years.
Posted 8/26/2007 6:57 AM (GMT -8)
Lyrica is a weight gainer , and fluid retention . I know several who have been on it and gained weight . about the only 2 meds I know of is Keppra which I take and Topamax .

Posted 8/26/2007 10:18 AM (GMT -8)
I have been on Topamax and have found it to help the most for my pain. It also has the side effect of loosing weight. It doesn't happen to everyone though. I was on many other antiseizure drugs before this and gained alot of weight. I was then put on Topamax, and lost so much weight that they had to take me off of it. I was under 100 pounds. I later went back on it and have been back on it for about a year and a half and it has helped alot. I didn't do well with Lyrica because of the weight gain and I had alot of the peripheral edema with it as well. Good luck and I hope you find some relief.
Posted 9/29/2022 8:32 PM (GMT -8)
I was put on Topamax because they had pretty much tried everything else with no success. I loved it at first. It seemed to make me lose weight, I felt like I had more energy, and it absolutely helped with my excruciating nerve pain. I was on it for about 3-4 weeks when I started noticing that I was getting sharp pain in my eyes. I stupidly ignored it not knowing it was a terrible side effect of the medication. I continued to take it for about 7-8 months, until the pain in my eyes was something I just couldn’t ignore anymore. I started having blurry vision etc, I just recently went to an eye specialist to find out I now have glaucoma in both eyes, severe damage in my left eye, and could potentially have vision loss in the future. I’m 46 years old and have been dealing with severe neuropathy since my mid 20s, I was so desperate for something that would work, and now I’ve added to my problems. Just be absolutely careful on this medication. If you start to notice even the slightest discomfort or sting in your eyes get to your dr immediately to get off of this medication! The ophthalmologist put me on special eyedrops to help lower the pressure in my eyes, but the blurring in the left eye isn’t getting any better. Be safe, and good luck to you.
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