I have a very liberal doctor and so I am on several medications. I really find Elavil (which has a generic amnitryptilline) very helpful for neuropathy and Feldene (generic piroxicam) very helpful for inflammation. I also have hydrocodone which is a medication most people need to get at a pain clinic since it is an opiate. Personally, I don't think of it as being addicted but your body does become dependent on it and you would need to wean off slowly, as with many other meds. The feldene comes in 10mg and 20mg so you take it once or twice a day. The Elavil I have found is just wonderful. It is an old tricyclic antidepressant and I call it a tiny little miracle pill. I started with 25mg before bed and am now taking one pill three times a day...I believe the dosage for serious depression can go up to 150mg per day. It makes me a little sleepy, but not exhausted. It really seems to help a great deal with pain. I just read someone else stating the same thing in the Q&A regarding FMS. I tried Neurontin and one other and I thought it was just awful....I was in a constant daze. Far more drunk/drugged feeling than even taking hydrocodone (which is vicodin).

What I love about my internist is that she is a woman about 50ish, and specializes in female clientele. She is really geared in to our needs, and she is also extremely interested in palliative care (which is medication to make us feel better but not necessary get better....dealing with the quality of life). I am so fortunate to have found her. She has been my internist now since 1996. I tease her and tell her that even if she wants to retire from practice one day she has to keep me as a patient. Her oldest patient at the moment is 103! My neurologist, as much of an expert as he is, would never spend so much time with me and be as supportive in other medications that I felt I needed. The internist is treating me for both FMS and MS...the neurologist is treating me with MS. So, he prescribes the Avonex and the Elavil and she prescribes everything else.

If anyone is experiencing depression even to a small degree, it is so easy these days to treat you really need to speak to a physician for medication. I take both Prozac and Elavil (they both have generics) and I think this is one of the reasons why the Avonex, so far, has not had really serious side effects. I hope with any luck, this will continue for a long time.

oh yes, don't forget to take some APPLE CIDER VINEGAR in some V8 juice daily...I can tell you when I forget this!

I was having some pain this past week. I have been on neurontin in the past. I also took LYRICA for a time...I liked LYRICA LOTS.

I went looking for homeopathic or nutritional supplements to help recently...I came up with B COMPLEX...daily, and borage oil (gla)...it has helped me feel much better.

It might help to up the dosage more slowly? Mine may have been increased too fast? Good luck, and I hope it works for you.

i agree with purplebutterfly. risk v benefits. i've been taking it for about 4 months with few side effects. the ones you mentioned upticked a bit but have subsided mostly, as has pain, mostly. it also helps me sleep at the higher dose : ) good luck!