Once more into the breach

[melchar]

Some sort of Swedish recessive makes me lack opiate receptors = so opiates just don't work on me. If only PAIN didn't work on me. So - my doctor is trying non-opiates. Just finished a 2 week course of Neurontin. [This drug is used as an anti-seizure, anti-pain, anti-insomnia med.]

Not only did it not have an effect on the pain, but it intensified my insomnia. Lots. Which let me 'enjoy' the pain of the postherpetic neuralgia** even more. [** postherpetic neuralgia = where the active open sores have healed, but the stabby pain, burning pains, itching and ache remains.]

In the effort of finding a pain medication that will have some effect on me, my doctor prescribed a new drug: Nortriptyline. Oh yay. This one is an anti-depressive and for pain. Sure be nice if it works.

Comments

[seawasp]

That's bizarre; I thought that opiates acted on the same receptors that our endorphins target, meaning that it's a built-in essential mechanism of our bodies.

[melchar.livejournal.com]

I -wish- it was. Sadly, I get annoying genetic weirdnesses from both paternal and maternal lines - which leads to a lot of 'paradoxical drug responses' on my part. However, the specific lack of opiate receptors [or lack of enough opiate receptors to make any difference] came from my dad - who also suffered from it.

... and when he was on a morphine drip and its only effect was to make him nauseous, that can be very sad indeed. Morphine is one opiate I haven't yet tried, but I'm guessing it'll have that same effect. But it can be really annoying to not get any pain relief from opiates. My mom is like 'how can you not be affected by vicodin, oxycontin/oxycodone, percocet? Well give them to me then!'

Since that is a common response I get from family/friends, I have to assume it really does have affect on others. O_o

[spammagnet.livejournal.com]

I hope they find something that works well for you soon. Glad that's not one of my weird-Scandinavian-recessives problems, at least not for most opiates.

[kaichi-satake.livejournal.com]

It does have a big effect on lots of people. I was addicted to morphine for a while, and it was damned hard to get off of.

I wish I knew of some miracle drug that could help you, dear lady! *gentle hugs*