I was put on Nucynta and I took it for 11 days. I had RSD and and nerve pain in my left hand, wrist and arm up to my elbow. My pain clinic at the time had no other patients on it. I had been on lots of differemt pain meds, both long- and short-actimng meds, Cymbalta, and others. I had nine surgeries due to a joint replacement in my left thumb that failed. I also did PT, OT, stellate ganglion blocks and lidoderm infusions.
I will preface my experience with the fact I tend to be sensitive to a lot of medications. My doctor at the time had heard good things about it at some conferences. I tried to do some research on it but couldn't find much info on it.
I took the first dose and found incredible pain relief. I was thrilled because it had been a long road and I had never been able to get much pain relief. I took the second dose at bedtime and that's when the trouble started. I had hallucinations. It appeared my walls were moving, sort of rolling in a wave-like pattern. My son came in to say goodnight and I felt like I was looking at him in a funhouse mirror. He was all distorted and was taunting me. He seemed to be holding a big bottle of whiskey and was waving it at me. (My ex-husband had been a big drinker and caused a lot of chaos before we separated. Luckily my kids weren't bi
Sorry. Posted before I finished. I had a lot of fears about drugs and alcohol due to my ex and my hallucination with my son was terrifying. I would try to reach for him and it was like he was a ghost and my hand would pass through him.
After being on it a couple of days, I started feeling very amped and was very jittery. I couldn't sleep or eat much. I became very nauseous I called the doctor and was told I needed to give it 2 weeks to "metabolize and regulate in your body." Things got worse. I could only sleep about ten or fifteen mimutes a night. I felt like I could feel the blood rushing through my veins and it felt like ice water. I started vomiting and got very weak.
As days went by I would call the doctor and pharmacist and they both kept telling me I needed to give it two weeks. I was exhausted and felt like I would never feel normal again.
Finally at 11 days I called her crying and tol her I couldn't take it another second. She agreed to take me off it and put me back on what I had been on before. It must stay in w your system as it was about two weeks before I felt bacck to myself.
While I was on it I had very little pain. Eventually it returned full force except the pain thiat extennded into my armwas gone. It never came back. I still'have bad pain in my hand and fimgers.
Nucynta doesn'tnseem to be used much in this area. I had a hard time fiinding it at any local pharmacy that would order it. Good luck and let us know how you do on it.
Nucynta is a newer opioid medication (approved for US in 2013, but used in Europe for a while) with actions different from traditional opioids -- similar to Tramadol, but stronger.
It is the only US drug approved for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, so is believed to be good for nerve pain. However, hallucinations are one of the side effects.
Is it working for you?