Medications mentioned as helpful (but which also tended to increase constipation) were:

• Torodol (10 mg pill) works for the first few days of the pain, but it can only be used for a very short term.
• Morphine sulfate SA works for instant relief of severe pain.
• Percocet, Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, or Tylenol with Codeine are recommended for time released pain relief.
• Vicodin taken about 30 minutes before bedtime helps when the pain is at its worst.
• Decadron for two days after chemo along with Prednisone for five days after chemo was what one woman used to get her through the day.
• For one woman, two Tylenol every four hours around the clock, even during the night, controlled pain quite well.
• Long acting opiates, such as Methadone (Dolophine), also work well to control the pain associated with neuropathy.
• Another solution is a Fentanyl patch, which releases a steady, but low dose amount of drug that provides relief all day long.
• Lidoderm (lidocaine) 5% patch during the day followed by a 5 mg pill of methadone at bedtime.

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are usually NOT effective, especially for long term use.

Darvon (propoxyphene napsylate) and Darvoset N (contains 100 mg Darvon and 650 mg acetaminophen) are not any more effective than aspirin (ASA), but have significantly more side effects. In addition, these drugs are not recommended for use in the elderly or those with diminished kidney function, liver function, and/or heart function. (JAMA 213:996-1006, 1972; JAMA 229:55-59, 1974; American Pain Society 1999 Principles, + 10 more)

Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran for chronic neuropathy pain: When given up to 21 capsules (0.75 mg each capsule) a day significantly reduced pain, improved sleep, and improved functioning, but caused more side effects than taking up to 21 capsules a day of the 0.15 mg capsules. However, the high strength group averaged 12 capsules daily while the low strength group averaged 18 capsules a day. (NEJM 348:1223-1232, 27 Mar 2003).

Ibuprofen and aspirin (ASA or acetylsalicylic acid) are NOT usually recommended, as they can increase the tendency to bleed.

One oncologist said he didn't feel healing could occur as effectively while his patient was hurting from neuropathy. He recommended a combination of a pin medication, Xanax for anxiety and depression, and Amitriptyline for her neuropathy and to aid her in sleeping.

Other medications which may work for some people are Dexamethosone (and other coritcosteroids), a muscle relaxant called Baclofen (Lioresal), Clonidine (Catapres), and a heart anti-arrhythmic called Mexiletine (Mexitil).

One quinine sulfate table at bedtime helped, but made the ringing in one woman's ears worse.

For relief of the itching which commonly goes along neuropathy, one woman uses hydroxyzine hydrochloride or Benadryl allergy medicine several times a day.

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