Hi there, I have been perscribed mexitil after years of not having meds - I had tried dilantin a couple of different times, but absolutely hated the side effects and weaned myself off of it both times. I have lost trust in Drs after being given a muscle biopsy and being left with the feeling that it was unnecessary. My trust is returning - bit by bit.
I have spoken to many Drs over the years, and still have no definite diagnosis, but the Dr I saw through the MDA clinic this time around agreed to the mexitil and I am taking a low dose and raising it weekly to reach 200mg 3x a day.
I started out getting some odd sharp shooting pains after taking the first dose, but ever since, I have been walking on a cloud. My motonia and the weakness were pretty severe. I now still have some cramping, but I can take the stairs at a near-normal gait - the weakness is so much less. I can tell the difference in my blood pressure, too. It seems now like it was too low before. I would lean over to do something and get light headed when I stood back up. That is now greatly diminished. I feel like somebody chipped the concrete blocks off my hands and feet. I can roll over in bed without waking up from the pain or entanglement - I can turn my alarm clock off without a huge ordeal. I can feel my energy returning. I took the stairs instead of the elevator at work today...I'll be back on my motorcycle in no time - as soon as it gets above 40 degrees again, that is...and I won't have to worry so much about the surprise myotonia after long stretches of highway...there have been times I couldn't downshift on an exit. Yikes.
Can anyone tell me their experiences with developing a tolerance to this drug? Sneaky side effects?
Amanda, I'm so glad to hear you're doing well with the Mexitil. It's great that your doctor understood the importance of working up slowly...I think a lot of people quit because of the side effects when you try to take a full dose right off the bat.
Hopefully you won't develop a tolerance. I wonder if stopping occasionally for a week or two helps prevent that. I'll do some checking and see if I can find anything.
I have been using mexitil (mexiletine) for about 2 years now. I take 250 mg three times a day. Mexitil is very effective but I found that at a lower dose it did not work well. Some people who use mexiletine for nueropathic pain are prescribed a much higher dosage. Most side effects diminished after about a week and fortunately I have not developed a tolerance. The most significant continuing side effect is a minor stomach pain after I take my second dose around noon. This will only occur if I do not eat breakfast, which, for no good reason I often skip.