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Re: medication

This is from a recent post on medications. I would tend to agree with your parents - at your age the side effects may be more harmful over time.

We have had a few teens who only took Mexitil before a sport event and not on a regular basis. You'd have to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.

The first name listed is the generic name of the medication, the second is the common brand name in the US:

Mexiletine (Mexitil) - this seems to be the most effective for the most people. This is an oral version of lidocaine and is used to treat heart arrhythmias. You need a full cardiac workup as well as monitoring.

Flecainide (Flecaine) - not quite as effective but gives some relief for most people. Also used to treat heart arrhythmias.

Acetazolamide (Diamox) - effective for many people. This is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that affects pH and acts as a diuretic. It is often used to treat high altitude sickness.

Phenytoin (Dilantin) - one of the oldest treatments for MC. Primarily used as an anti-epilepsy medication. Works okay for some people.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)- another anti-seizure medication. Seems to work well for certain mutations. I do NOT recommend this drug because of the nature of the mental side effects.

Quinine Sulfate - this is another very old treatment for MC. It used to be very inexpensive until the FDA required drug companies to pay millions to recertify. Normally used to treat malaria. It's found in quinine water, but the US has started regulating it to the point that the amount in something like Canada Dry is so small it would have a negligible effect.

All mediations have side effects and the benefits need to be weighed with the risks. They should all be given in a titrated dose starting with a smaller amount and working up to the full dose gradually to monitor for reactions. Never exceed the recommended dosage and never take a double dose if you missed a previous dose.

Type of Myotonia: Thomsen's

Country: USA