im the same way sometimes. i dont understand how i can be on 800mg gabapentin x3 800mg ibuprofen x3 7.5-325 vicodin x3 and max epidural dosage and still feel so terrible all the time. but ive lowered them and moved them around and i find out that its just that severe and i need them to get outta bed. its such a sad disease and it really takes a while to dawn on you how bad it is. im so sorry. hugs.

I went to a pain specialist a couple of years ago - this guy had like 3 MDs and 3 PhDs and had studied all over the world. At the time I was on Lyrica, Cymbalta, Ultram, and a handful of others. The first thing he did was take me off of everything. He said (and I agreed) that I was taking so much that it was impossible to tell what was FM and what was medication side effects. I was taking medication to deal with medication symptoms!

Of course, we did this gradually over a couple of months. I've since tried each one... and a few others... one at a time to determine what helps and what doesn't. I'm glad I did. I'm down to one low dose generic tricyclic to help with sleep, and tramadol for pain as needed....and don't feel any worse than I did taking all those expensive and potentially dangerous (none have been tested long term) drugs.

It was well worth it. I still feel like crap every day, but at least now I know why. :-)

You didnt say WHAT meds you are on?????

Hmmm, I currently take Lexapro, tramadol, antacid and an allergy med. I stopped taking my wellbutrin, amitriptaline and gabapentin becuase I couldnt afford them! Cannot possibly live without lexapro, tried it. I miss the wellbutrin because it gave me energy. The tramadol does help with a tiny bit of pain and it gives me energy so I keep that. The amitriptaline was fantastic and I really need it back but somehow lost the prescription. The gabapentin worked great with the nerve pain but after stopping it, I do have horrible pain BUT I am not nealry as foggy, spacey or wobbly! I used to get lost while driving on it. Oh yeah, and Flexeril. I wish I still had that because that worked great at night against muscle aches.

Get some pets, they FORCE you to get up and out. I have farm animals and I swear its the best med in the world. Hurts like hell to get going but what a difference! The more you do he more you can do!

It may well be that you are suffering side effects of some of your meds. I was worse off when I took Fibro meds.

You could do a complete research on possible side effects of the different drugs you are on and see if they ring a bell with you.

Then you could talk to your doc about your suspicions and talk about reducing your dosages until you have weened yourself off of them.

This is what I did and it has made a world of difference for me. Perhaps it will do the same for you/

I totally get you. I work in a jail and see drug dependant people all the time. So I have an aversion to taking meds. I seldom take my morphine. They wanted to build my tolerance so I could take a pill a day, I have a low tolerance to pain meds. I told them no, I am on a low dose, I can take it when I need it, why up it?
Ofcourse I do have to learn to take my meds before the pain is overwhelming. Took my morphine last night, got itchy and stupid head but the pain was still overwhelming. I need to learn to take it when I know the pain is going to get to much not, after the fact.
They had me on sleeping pils, muscle relaxers (supposed to take three times a day, yeah right once and I am out for hours) etc...so I just didn't take them.
But now I think I need to reassess this and figure out with my doc what I do need to take regularly, what we can elimanate and what works for me. My night stand looks like a pharmacy!
The lyrica made my eyes wonker ( I already get funny vision) and I am told I was not pleasant to be around. I might try it again though, it did help alot with the pain that goes down my arms and legs!
Sorry, I can't be much help I am just as in the dark about my meds as you are

I think you've gotten some good advice about working with your doctor to wean off some, then add one at a time back, to see what's helping and what's not. That makes sense to me.

I think I'm on the bare minimum to help me. Celexa for depression, muscle relaxer at night to help with sleep, and pain pills during the day. I don't feel any side effects or that I'm over-medicated at all.

Good luck! Elizabeth