Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...

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Dealmaker 03/09/2015

Here's an interesting article on Tramadol & MG.

http://www.myastheniagravisblog.com/2013/10/possible-tramadol-connection-to.html

Has anyone taken Tramadol prior to having MG? I'd be curious to know because I was taking Tramadol once to 3x week for a few months. Then right before I experienced diplopia and ptosis (the onset of MG) I had taken Tramadol & Flexeril a few nights in a row.

Most of what I read in medical research only show possible precursors to the onset of MG (toxins, trauma, medications, virus, enlarged thymus).

I'd like to see how many current readers have taken a muscle relaxer or pain med before the onset of MG

limpnoodle 03/09/2015

I was just reading an article yesterday about the possible link between tramadol and mg. I will try to find it and post it.

limpnoodle 03/09/2015

I found it. It is the article from myasthenia gravis foundation concerning drugs that may cause or exacerbate mg and Lems. It is in the links section here on DS.
Scroll down to page 17 and you will see gabapentin addressed.

joefnh 03/09/2015

Dealmaker, I have taken Tramadol while MG has been active and so far it has not caused any issues with my MG. Tramadol Is is a very weak opiod receptor agonist and is also a very weak SSRI. Overall I have found it to be a good pain med with MG, but like so many other things with MG, you need to carfully try it for yourself.

Let us know how you do

Joe

limpnoodle 03/10/2015

Oops! I meant to say Gabapentin instead of Tramadol. Don't know where that came from. Sorry.

nanegg 03/10/2015

I had MG and LEMS long before I took any Tramadol. It does seem to help pain and doesn't exacerbate my diseases, but I haven't done an elimination study on it so couldn't say that conclusively.

ThisIsLife 03/11/2015

I would love to see more of what you read, post away! I took flexeril spelling?, i also was on a low dose corticosteriod for allergies for almost 20 years, and I'm one of the few mg patients that corticosteriods cause a massive exacerbation without relief (like mg crisis)...I believe that the use of this drug triggered an existing genetic predisposition for mg, like the stars have to align in the most horrible way if you know what I mean.... I love learning what we find as patients as possible precursors, we are sometimes our own best resource, also helps me to know what to avoid taking :)

To add to the mix, I was also a vegetarian for 13 years during the height of the monsanto spraying of soy beans, and I ate 90% soy products that entire time (organic options were not popular or as available in the 90s, nor did I understand the difference between neurotoxic sprays and organic things back then)...anyway, I always wonder if some of us are just much more sensitive to these pesticides and it sets off a cascade of biological events...leading to mg..

thanks for the post, happy to read what others think :)

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