Many pain medications used in Western medicine are opiates, or narcotics, chemically similar to the opium used in other cultures. Medications such as codeine, Percodan, Lortabs, morphine, OxyContin, Percocet and others used for conditions such as diabetic neuropathy are related to opium. An article published in the journal Acta Medica in July 2011, might be something to consider if you or a loved one with Type 2 diabetes is considering taking opiates for pain. The study was performed at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
In Iran it is a widely held belief that opium helps to prevent diabetics from getting heart and blood vessel disease, and it is used for that purpose. Two hundred and twenty-eight opium users and 228 non-users, all with diabetes, were included in the study. Coronary artery disease was found to be higher in the users than in non-users. The researchers concluded there is evidence suggesting the use of opium increases the risk of coronary artery disease in people with diabetes.
Fortunately, non-narcotic medications are available for diabetic neuropathy. If over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol and motrin are not effective, then antiepileptics, lidocaine, or antidepressants are alternatives. Anti-seizure medications used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy include:
Neurontin,
Topamax,
Lyrica,
Tegretol, and
Dilantin.
It is unclear exactly how anti-seizure drugs help neuropathic pain, but both health problems are due to difficulties in the nervous system.
Alternative drugs prescribed to help with the pain of diabetic neuropathy:
Lidocaine is an anesthetic that can be used locally with a patch which is applied directly to the skin. Up to four patches per day can be used, and the only possible side effect is a skin rash.
Duloxetine, also called Cymbalta, is an antidepressant approved for use in diabetic neuropathy. This medication allows molecules that carry messages from one nerve cell to another to stay in the spaces between nerve cells, where messages are transmitted. In November 2010 the Chinese Medical Journal published an article on the use of duloxetine compared to a placebo for diabetic neuropathy. Researchers at Peking University First Hospital in Beijing found that patients given duloxetine reported significantly less pain than patients taking placebo.
Pamelor, also called Aventyl or nortryptiline, is another antidepressant approved for use in treating diabetic neuropathy. It works by interrupting processes in the smaller nerves and spinal cord that cause pain.
Electrical stimulation is also available when medications are unsatisfactory. Electrodes are placed onto the skin and a mild current is run through them for temporary relief.
Keeping blood sugar levels in the normal range is also helpful for preventing diabetic neuropathy. There are several reasons why nerve damage does take place. It is due partly to the high blood sugar damaging the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. It's also possible there can be inflammation in the nerves, or an autoimmune attack on the nerves.
Some diabetics are able to control the pain of their diabetic neuropathy by:
light aerobics or walking, since physical activity keeps circulation healthy and prevents too much fluid from accumulating.
wearing elastic stockings,
soaking in a warm bath,
massage therapy since it helps to reduce your output of the pain-causing chemical, cortisol,
using a TENS unit which sends out tiny electrical impulses into localized areas can interrupt pain sensations for many people. Your doctor will be able to advise if this is appropriate for you
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions ... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
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