If the thinking is correct about how this drug works for fibromyalgia, then inflammation may be a factor in fibromyalgia pain.
Thanks, Karen, for the good article!
patsy
Thanks, Patsy. Yes, it's my understanding that as more sensitive testing methods are developed, they're discovering that inflammation is actually involved in many illnesses like FM, ME/CFS and other chronic pain conditions, whereas they never thought so before. One researcher told me he believed inflammation was most likely involved any time there was pain. It's definitely going to be interesting to watch. – Karen
I would caution anyone thinking about taking naltrexone that they need to be well off of any opioids before starting. A doctor once prescribed it for me to reduce itching caused by another problem. He knew I was taking tramadol for my fibro and so he should have known better. Maybe because tramadol is not a "scheduled" opioid, he thought it wouldn't be strong enough to cause a problem. Luckily, I only took half a tablet to start because it caused a very severe reaction which lasted for four days.
Thank you for sharing your experience with naltrexone, MaryLynne. It's important to know that you need to get off of all opioids before starting naltrexone.
I can kind of understand why your doctor might not have thought about the tramadol when he prescribed naltrexone for you. There seems to be some debate among medical professionals as to whether or not tramadol is an opioid. Some describe it as a weak synthetic opioid but others say that although it works on the opioid receptors, it is not an opioid. Either way, though, it would make sense that naltrexone would cause a reaction since it basically takes over the opioid receptors and doesn't let any other medications in – and tramadol definitely works on the opioid receptors.
Thanks again for the info! – Karen
Just for your information, in Canada, Tramadol is a scheduled opiate and subject to all kinds of stringent procedures just like oxycontin. In fact, it is all but impossible to get Oxycontin anymore and the new Oxy-Neo, well forget about it. Your Doctor needs to get special permission to prescribe it. The new narcotic laws announced in Ontario about a month ago make life a nightmare for chronic pain patients. The addicted natives on northern Ontario reserves are having to go cold turkey, because nothing was put in place to help with their addiction. We are going back to the Dark Ages when it comes to pain relief in Canada, unless you are an end-stage cancer patient. Whatever happened to the "Decade of Pain"?
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This article is very interesting, it comes to me at a time where I am looking for alternative .
Would that be good too, for one who already takes some kind of agonist opiate ?
I feel trapped in the treatment I am on now for years. But it works well for me. My dr is not too hot to change me to something else because all the other meds for chronic pain did not work for me. After trying the first class of meds for years with many problems, my physician then put me on morphine. I did fight that I did not like the idea to resort to that extrem but it worked as I said and I never had any side effects from it, I finally started to live an almost normal life . The problem is that I am trapped in this town with my meds. I would like to relocate closer to my kids but moving means years of wait to find a new dr. who would be willing to help me with my now medication.
Could Naltrexsone be switched without too much problems and is it easy to get everywhere ?
Have you seen the Dateline NBC special about pharma co. and their human trials ? If not, it worth to watch. It is scary, how could we be sure of what comes out of these supposed trials?
http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/04/10562883-in-india-oversight-lacking-in-outsourced-drug-trials
Hope that link works .
Marie
Hi Marie – You would have to talk with your doctor about the naltrexone, but since it's an opioid antagonist, I suspect you'd have to taper off of the morphine before beginning the naltrexone. Naltrexone basically blocks the opioid receptors so other opioids don't work, which could cause you to suddenly go into withdrawal if you haven't tapered off of the morphine first.
It's terrible that a medication keeps you so tied down. It's like being tethered to your doctor so you can only go so far.
I haven't seen the special you mentioned but will watch it. Sounds interesting. – Karen
You might be able to see the episode online here :
it's the Hansen file drug trials.
I saw it last week or last weekend.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/the-hansen-files-drug-trials-part-1/6q459s4
As for feeling being tied to my dr. or this town it is an awful feeling. At least I have one, so many people can not have a regular dr.... or family physician
Marie