I'm really interested in hearing from those who take meds, what kinds of meds they take and what dosage. Do you expect to remain on your meds for your SCI lifelong? Are there any members who no longer take medications for their SCI?

I use the evil weed for spasms and as an attitude adjuster, it works for me. I'm still waiting for all the bad stuff to happen, it's been about 40 years now. That's all I use for now...............

Ok, well this is a rather long list for me, too long for my liking...
I currently take Lyrica (pregabalin) and nortriptyline for nerve pain, dihydrocodeine and tramadol (again for pain but not everyday, well not on work days anyway!) baclofen for spasms and oxybutynin for bladder. As far as I am concerned this is too much but I have tried to cut down on the pain med side of things but it makes life far too uncomfortable for me.
I think I will be taking drugs for the rest of my life, as much as I hate it, not taking them causes me far more problems than taking them. I certainly know if I have missed a dose.

I take more vitamins than anything else, really.

Your poll wouldn't let me vote for some reason...

I am 5+ years post injury. My SCI was only one of "Many" injuries sustained in my accident. I used to take all kinds of medications, too many to remember and most I couldn't pronounce anyway. They were for Pain, depression, bowel meds, stomach meds and meds I didn't even know what they were for...

I now do not take anything.

Well I do take a psyllium dietary fiber supplement like Metamucil on a regular basis.
I also will every now and then but not on a regular basis take some Milk of Magnesia and on occasion I'll take Sennosides if I am feeling plugged up.
But other than that... Med Free

T.

Fentanyl 50 patch's for pain
amitriptyline to aid muscle relaxation and inturn aid sleep ( yeh, like it reallyhelps - not)
Tried alsorts of pain relief over the years, Fentanyl does work.

I'm 9 months post accident (walking quad) and take the following meds:

1. Tramadol 40 mg twice daily (nerve pain)
2. Oxycodone 5 mg twice daily (nerve pain)
3. Gabapentin 300 mg three times daily (mood stablizer)
4. Liquid Multi Vitamin daily (supplement)
5. Zanaflex 4mg as needed (spams and tone)

Baclafen- 10 mg 3/day
gabapentin - 200mg 3/day except the 4pm dose is 300
see, early evening is the witching hours...
Interesting that Patty41 takes gabapentin as a mood stabilizer. I was given this for the prickly nerve numbness that bothers me most in the hands, but also in legs after "lots" of excersize. I've read that it is a mood stabilizer, but my moods are not stable.

I tried to minimize drugs at first (still do) but realize now that some permanent damage resulted from spasm activity early, and it could have been prevented if I had dosed up. I am stronger with the meds, not weaker, though I'm told my dosage is not high.

Increasing dosage does not help spasticity due to bladder or bowel problems- or any problems, including cold. It only helps at the baseline

Interesting topic. pwuff

Another pole I missed. Here's my NEW list:

1). Baclofen 20mg x4 a day
2). Oxybutynin 5mg x3 a day
3). Fludrocortisone .1mg x2 a day (new one for me on a limited basis, raises heart rate).
4). Multi vitamin x1 a day

I have a very low dosage perscription for Gabapentin (100mg), but even that made me a little lethargic. I can't touch the stuff. Anyone want some drugs??

To add, I left the hospital with all kinds of drugs. 9 pills to be exact, including blood thinners and stool softeners, so I'm happy to be down to just 4 and eventually 3 again.

just lyrica and mary jane when shes around

Baclofen 20mg 4x Daily(although I still have severe spasms most of day)
Multivitamin

This is really interesting reading other peoples replies. I don't take any medication at all for SCI. Now it has me wondering if I should be? I know every case is different, but I see some incompletes are taking some too. Obviously if you don't need it there is no reason to take it, but still. It has me wondering!

Hmm...

Baclofen - 80-100 mg. (20 mg., 4x, occ. extra)
Valium - 8-12 mg. (2-4 mg., 4x)
Oxycodone - 60 mg. (10 mg., 6x)
Lyrica - 450 mg. (300 PM, 150 AM)

Every doc wants to increase my pain meds (and do time-released) but I will not and my doses at least take the edge off...also consume a plethora of other meds for a multitude of stuff...

As I still spasm severely, plan on a Baclofen/morphine pump as soon as I can stop having various infections and other complications long enough...

After reading a lot of posts on this thread and elsewhere here...I am actually considering smoking some pot for the first time since the fun days of my youth over 30 years ago! Now, just to figure out where/how/who about acquiring some...

If you are not suffering then don't take any. All have downside and are only used to ameliorate bad spasticity or pain, or problems of incontinence.

Baclofen- 15mg 3 times daily
Lyrica-150mg twice daily
Oxybutynin- 5mg 3 times daily

I must be one of the lucky ones. Don't take any medication, have no pain, long may it last.

City Girl,
I am almost 9 months post accident. I take 15mg baclofen 6 times daily for spasms and 300mg gabapentin 4 times daily for the burning sensation in my feet. I have been told that I have a good chance for full recovery and hope to be able to be off all medications.

I take a lot of meds but most is for other things I am diabetic and have had a stroke but didn't have any sideaffects from it. I take loritab 3 times a day for pain, baclofen 10 mg 2 times 5 mg 2 times. I take metamucil and have started taking ambein as do not sleep very well any more and cymbalta don't know if I spelled that right but it is an antidepressant.

Baclofen 60mg -3 and sometimes 4 times a day.

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I don't think I have room for anything else in the body!!

When I was in physical rehab they had me on a bunch of meds. Once I got home I stopped taking all of them. I do still have some pain but I actually think my pain for better when I stopped taking the meds. Not sure why (my doctor doesnt know either), but I keep thinking maybe the roller coaster of being in pain -> take meds -> less pain -> pain returns was worse/more noticeable than just fighting through the pain all the time. I feel like since I'm always in some pain that I've become desensitized to it. A consequence of that however is that it becomes really hard to tell if my pain is actually getting better or if I'm just becoming more used to it.... but then again.... that it even matter?