Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
I came across an interesting video on sharecare about Substance P causing pain. That was the first I heard of this. Basically, Substance P exists in Spinal Fluid and studies have shown that us fibro peeps have too much of it. Too much=Pain. Treatment, well I guess one of my doctors is pretty smart in prescribing my Gabapentin. Think I will be taking the higher dosage he recommends from now on as I have been in a huge flare from Physical Therapy. Here is the article from PubMed:
Pregabalin and gabapentin reduce release of substance P and CGRP from rat spinal tissues only after inflammation or activation of protein kinase C.
Fehrenbacher JC, Taylor CP, Vasko MR.
Source
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120, USA.
Abstract
Gabapentin and pregabalin are amino acid derivatives of gamma-amino butyric acid that have anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anxiolytic-like properties in animal models. The mechanisms of these effects, however, are not well understood. To ascertain whether these drugs have effects on sensory neurons, we studied their actions on capsaicin-evoked release of the sensory neuropeptides, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat spinal cord slices in vitro. Although release of immunoreactive peptides from non-inflamed animals was not altered by either drug, prior in vivo treatment by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant enhanced release from spinal tissues in vitro, which was attenuated by gabapentin and pregabalin. These drugs also reduced release of immunoreactive neuropeptides in spinal tissues pretreated in vitro with the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Our results suggest that gabapentin and pregabalin modulate the release of sensory neuropeptides, but only under conditions corresponding to significant inflammation-induced sensitization of the spinal cord.
PMID: 14499429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Pregabalin and gabapentin reduce release of substance P and CGRP from rat spinal tissues only after inflammation or activation of protein kinase C.
Fehrenbacher JC, Taylor CP, Vasko MR.
Source
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120, USA.
Abstract
Gabapentin and pregabalin are amino acid derivatives of gamma-amino butyric acid that have anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anxiolytic-like properties in animal models. The mechanisms of these effects, however, are not well understood. To ascertain whether these drugs have effects on sensory neurons, we studied their actions on capsaicin-evoked release of the sensory neuropeptides, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat spinal cord slices in vitro. Although release of immunoreactive peptides from non-inflamed animals was not altered by either drug, prior in vivo treatment by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant enhanced release from spinal tissues in vitro, which was attenuated by gabapentin and pregabalin. These drugs also reduced release of immunoreactive neuropeptides in spinal tissues pretreated in vitro with the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Our results suggest that gabapentin and pregabalin modulate the release of sensory neuropeptides, but only under conditions corresponding to significant inflammation-induced sensitization of the spinal cord.
PMID: 14499429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
Any thoughts?
I crashed and burned on Lyrica before I could get to a therapeutic level - side effects were too much for me - but I have had nothing but some drowsiness on gabapentin, and I believe when I can get past 300 mg a day it will work well - it's already working just not enough.
Always good to have an understanding of WHY a medication is prescribed, as so many times the doctor just say "take this and you'll feel better."
Also, since the article I have read that Luxotene (cymbalta), L-Tyrosine, Dexamatrose (a corticosterioid), B12, Vit. D, also help stop the Substance P neurotransmitter response.
I was on Lyrica for a year before it was approved by the FDA for use on FM patients. Serious side effects kept me from feeling any relief from the drug. I switched to Neurontin (Gabapentin) after that and do not find it helpful for treating muscle pain at all. I do however get a lot of relief from the neuropathy type pain in my legs and feet. I think it also helps me sleep better.
I have never been willing to have a spinal tap to test for substance P levels. I'm already in enough pain.