Does a lack of sensitivity to side effects of meds correlate to lack of effectiveness of meds?

I'm wondering about this because I usually have no problems with meds that cause others many side effects.  In particular, nothing seems to make me very drowsy.  Elavil, for the first little while, but nothing major.  Neurontin - well I was up to 3600mg/day, the maximum dose, and it never ever made me sleepy.  Others here have reported problems at only 100 - 300mg/day.  

I'm now experimenting with Lyrica; coming off the Neurontin slowly and going up on the Lyrica.  GP prescripted up to a max. of 150mg per day of Lyrica.  Right now I'm at 100mg Lyrica, 1800mg Neurontin, and 50mg Elavil.  All list drowsiness as a side effect, and this combo is not affecting me negatively (except a tad of urinary hesitancy which is improving, and occasional ravenous appetite).

I take all these meds for neuropathic pain, and none of it seems to be doing much for me.  When I try to decrease, I do notice more intensity and frequency of pain, but honestly, not a huge difference.  It seems I can be on the max doses of these meds with little more relief than at the half dose.

All of this got me to wondering, maybe the lack of side effects is an indicator of an overall lack of effect (good and bad) on my system.  Has anyone seen any research on this or experienced something similar?

Clearly I need to be at doses no higher than those which are effective; no point staying at the high end of doses when being at the medium range has the same or close to the same positive effect.

It's frustrating...the neuropathic pain, sensory disturbances and numbness from CNS dysfunction are very difficult symptoms to treat and I've really learned this firsthand.

I'd love to hear from any of you with an opinion, insight or personal experience with all of this.

Thanks!

[Wobbly]

Oh my... I have heard that some people just don't get any relief from medications...and some people just cant take them because of side effects...

it's a good questions as too if you don't have any side effects or effectiveness from the meds...what do you do...?  well, I don't know... sorry...all that for I don't know...not much help am I..

When I started Neurontin, only 100mg would get me spaced out and tired.  I've been taking more now and it's not as bad.  I found that when I started it, it effected me.  Now, I'm slowing going up and it's OK.. I still have quite abit of pain, but I think it helps abit. and when I did stop it for a week, I noticed more pains etc...

that's a good question to ask your Neuro too.  Maybe the Lyrica will help, but if it's not helping now ??  I don't know.

I hate to think you won't find any meds that will help, but lets not go there?

good luck and let us know what the Dr says...

wobbly
dx

[essdipity]

Hey there, deebs.

I really don't think that side effects correlate with front effects, as I like to call them.

Many people are just very sensitive to meds, and I think all the accompanying info is written with the least common denominator in mind, if you get what I mean. I'm virtually never knocked out by meds that could fell a horse. Two Benedryal have no effect on my alertness at all. Elavil does nothing either, for pain or for sleep.

I'm not on any pain med right now, and I came off Lyrica slowly last spring. I had been taking 100 mg twice a day, and it didn't seem to be helping anymore and I didn't want to up the ante.. I'm no worse now after coming off Lyrica. No better either.

When I started it, however, my neuro didn't tell me to up the dose slowly, nor did he prescribe smaller dosage capsules. For once that sort of knocked me out-- for 2 days. I was really loopy and I slept a lot, then adjusted and that was that. I did gain weight very easily, however. Boo.

Anyway, 150 mg of Lyrica is not much at all. I looked into that a lot and found lots of people are prescribed as much as 600 mg/day. I think your GP is way too conservative and that you should increase the dose before you draw firm conclusions. If your GP won 't go along, your neuro should.

ess