Best med for diabetic neuropathy

[BabyGurl3171]

What, IYO, is a good med (can't be narcotic & already on gabapentin) for diabetic neuropathy? Everything I look up seems to be narcotic and my asshole PO will NOT allow that <eye roll>.
If it matters, it's the top, right side of my stomach. Could be my hernia I'm told but it really feels like neuropathy =(

 

[ErgicMergic]

Lyrica is better than Neurontin, as it causes less side effects for the pain relief it provides. If you are on benzos, then reducing your benzo dosage a bit will help with pain as well, as benzos tend to cause pain by slowing down the brain as a whole through positive allosoteric modulation of GABA.

Lyrica/Neurontin are not allosoteric modulators of GABA, they increase levels of GABA in a different way.

NMDA antagonists such asMagnesium, Zinc, and low-dose DXM are also very helpful for treating neuropathy.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

Effectiveness for treating pain is measured by the "Number Needed to Treat" which calculates how many patients they have to give the medicine to for ONE to receive 50% pain relief. They calculate the side effects of medication by "Number Needed to Harm" which measures the amount of people they have to give the drug to for 1 person to stop taking it due to the side effects.

The lower the NNT, the more effective it is and the higher the NNH, the safer the drug is.

I created this chart in 2008 I think to compare various treatment for pain medications and thought it might be useful.

 

[BabyGurl3171]

EM, I am on diazepam but *should* be taperin soon. Never knew that benzos could increase the pain. Good to know, thanks =)
Cane, nice job on the chart!
I just looked up Lyrica on my insur site & it's covered. Yay! They only pay for up to 300 mgs a day (I read the max is 600 rx'd), but can't complain bc I heard it's pricey!
I'm goin to ask for a few tests at my next visit (bc I have a hernia in my stomach & I'm also now concerned about a bowel obstruction bc it feels like a small part in this area of my stomach is ready to explode if I cough or sneeze) but I think it's diabetic neuropathy & so does my doc so far. Guess I'll find out in a week or two.
Thanks for the help & info guys =)
EDIT: Just rubbed on some capsaicin.. Let's hope it helps til I see the doc. Gotta admit, it felt/feels a bit better shortly after applyin. Could be placebo. Would be nice tho if the answer was this simple!