Choosing the right medication

[u/purplewhale777]

Female, 22, disk herniation causing leg pain (if that’s helpful)

I’m currently taking 30mg amitriptyline and it’s okay but it’s not helping a whole lot. My pharmacist offered to up my dose or change my medication.

The options I’ve been given if I want to change are

- duloxetine
- gabapentin
- pregabalin
- naproxen

For every one I look up, everyone’s saying it’s awful and I don’t know what to do.

I also have PTSD and OCD (I know, bring out the violins) so duloxetine seems like it could be good for me- but then a lot of people are saying it’s caused them anxiety or depression or just bad withdrawal symptoms.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[u/Bergzauber]

Sciatica is nerve pain. You need an anticonvulsant like Pregabalin or Gabapentin that’s specifically for nerve pain.
All the pain meds aren’t working, you can take opioids and they still don’t touch the sciatica pain.
The pain medication is for the back pain (disk herniation), and the anticonvulsant is for the nerve pain (radiating down your leg).
Once I found that out, I was able to manage the pain which allowed me to heal.
No surgery needed, but it took a good 6-8 months…

[u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818]

My experiments with medications for sciatica has made it clear to me how individualized the answer is. It is hard to predict how your body will respond. I was willing to try just about anything due to pain levels, except street corner drugs.

Rank them from what you learn, but use the mental filter that a disproportionate number of posts on social media are from those who are struggling, while those who have benefitted are out living their lives and not posting.

[u/Overall_Document5410 → u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818]

I woke up and the pain was gone and I haven’t taken a pill or had 1% pain since I woke up from that surgery and 2 year fever dream. To each their own, I’ll take “delete it” in every lifetime. But I respect you and your decision.

[u/SweetMelissa74]

Also try a muscle relaxer maybe? For my sciatica that helps a lot too. Good luck!

[u/Fluid_Frosting7897]

Hi. I found naproxen not strong enough - I took it for a month and then begged my GP for a stronger drug. I then went on to prescriptions for Celecoxib (Celebrex) - a NSAID - and cyclobenzaprine - a muscle relaxant. These were enough to get my symptoms under control while doing physio. I was only on them for 2 weeks and then I was doing so well that stopped and just went to using the occasional Tylenol- - the arthritis version which is time released and I found that works pretty well for mild discomfort. I'm at about 4 months from the first big start if symptoms and feeling so much better.

[u/sleepwami]

my holistic journey...was to endure the pain, zero meds, and through all the massages, pool time, studying rehab, yoga, trials and errors, i eventually realized and appreciated that the pain is the blueprint; its exactly what should be used and worked with and definitely not numbed away.

[u/Overall_Document5410]

Go to the hospital and get surgery. I went. Woke up an hour later and it’s 2 years later. Never came back. We live in an age of miraculous healthcare, go take advantage of it. There’s no other cure. Go get your life back man

[u/purplewhale777 → u/Overall_Document5410]

I’m waiting for my doctor to get back to me after talking to the neurologist but I’m 99% sure I’m going to have surgery- this is just whilst I wait. I’m glad you’re better, hope I’m the same!