Unusual medications, recent research

There are some recent studies on off-label use of medications that may benefit chronic pain sufferers.

D-cycloserine a tuberculosis medication

amantadine a medication to teat alzhimers (spelling?)

Embrel an anti inflammatory used for rheumatoid arthritis.

A modification of the main componemet in marijuana that does not get a person "high", but decreases pain and other affective components thereof

These seem to hold promise but of course are in the early stages of research.

Another example is that dextromethorphan (componenet of cough syrup) targets specific pain receptors outside the spinal cord, I believe the NMDA receptors, and the symathetic(?) portion of the nervous system.

There are many receptors that participate in the experience of pain, yet it seems that there is a limited approach that targets only a few of them.

I can't help but wonder if there is hope in trying the above off label meds, yet do not know how to go about doing so. I honestly have fairly good pain control, but if my activity levels enahnces so does my pain and worse, my sleep disorder creates profound havoc. For example, travel is severely limited.

I have tried to peruse the topic with my pain specialist but without success. I suspect that my family physician is also very conservative and would not welcome this until it becomes mainstream and falls under the safety net of common practice.

Any advice?

Thank you very much.

Jerry Hesch, MHS