Sheeeeesh!!! I have just spent an hour or more going back over this thread to where I left off and headed for the mountians - which slammed me right into the 50 meter long article on GABA and Glutamate, etc. posted by
@dan on August 6th...Ha, ha!
Two cups of good organic coffee later I am slowly handling things in a semi linear fashion (with occasional sighs of pristine streams, peaks, and altitudinal memories...so forgive me if I'm not on the ball here) and am going to just do some bullet points observations/questions, seeing as I was pretty involved in this Retigabine hunt before absconding.
1. I could go back and hand out about 50 "hugs, agrees, winners, hearts, hugs" to all of you giving so much time, attention, help, advice, etc. to this thread...and others of course. AWESOME! (Lame word but seems to fit!)
2. In same vein I publicly announce my "love" for
@benryu as per Rhea and others. The Hey my divorce is final in 2 weeks, but I'm not moving to Canada! Kidding = "bro" kind, and just incredible appreciation for your dedication to helping us with complex neurological esoterica and your knowledge. I am learning so much from you. Also agree about the similar kudos for
@attheedgeofscience.
3. Man, compared to my tinnitus (and H) Christian's and Viking's seem much more "complicated" or something. As some of you know [see my Profile] I have had T. for 58 years but it was the ototoxicity of 2006 and the fourth level of increase in 2012 that have been the biggest challenges. Within all that my T has stayed completely constant in volume once the 'new higher volume' occurred at each jump up. So...I suspect there may be differences to what seems to happen to Christian and Viking where their T seems to go all over the place even without Trobalt/Retigabine. Ummmm...apologies if I got this wrong guys.
4.
@Lep regarding blurred vision. I took a shit load of meds of all types during 7 years of undiagnosed chronic illness and blurred vision was a pretty common initial effect I recall. HOWEVER I am in no way saying it may be 'insignificant' for you re the Retigabine. Just an observation.
5.
@Telis and
@benryu ...Availability of Trobalt! You may recall that I actually had/have a prescription from my doc and tried to get it filled here in N. California and could indeed do so, but the pharmacy only wanted to order a full mega box as they knew no-one else would want the stuff. So the initial $270 or whatever (as not covered by my Obamacare insurance) for a month's supply was going to end up being nearly $1,000 or whatever for gobs of the stuff...which I did not want to do. Not being super rich and all.
However, my ever helpful doc's assistant then said she would order it for me c/o Canada at this site, with prices even cheaper than my initial 'cheap' quotes from CVS pharmacy here in California:
http://www.canadapharmacyonline.com/DrugInfo.aspx?name=Potiga6804
Ezogabine - also known as Trobalt (Retigabine)
ProductManufacturerDosageQtyPrice(USD)
Potiga Known as Trobalt outside the USGSK50 mg84$148.00
Potiga Known as Trobalt outside the USGSK100 mg84$149.00
Potiga Known as Trobalt outside the USGSK200 mg84$269.00
Potiga Known as Trobalt outside the USGSK300 mg84$359.00
So...seeing as I split for the hills, is this a bullshit pharmacy??? Do they not have it in Canada??? Yet my doc's office has used this particular pharmacy for a bunch of US patients who had no insurance and wanted lower prices for meds, thus I am wondering what is going on with this??? Did anyone try them???
And to sum up...Potiga IS AVAILABLE here in the USA and the cash price is no that bad IF you want a huge supply (rather than trail amount). Also it's available free from GSK if you do not have drug insurance coverage and have low income. [See my earlier posts on "patient assist" re all the major drug companies]. However, you must have a prescription.
6. Yeah, benzos (glutamate action) for sure do not reduce T volume long term, they just calm you down short term. The only drug I am on is 1 mg of Klonopin/Clonazepam for sleep, but after years it does absolutely bugger all for that, but I can't drop it currently as it kicks anxiety in if I lower it and I need to have a good long steady spell before I taper any more. Just a human around seems to nullify the 'visceral anxiety response' but that is not my reality any more re living alone and pretty isolated....Also there was some speculation in this thread that taking a benzo plus Retigabine may help the Potassium channels thing, so maybe not a big deal to be off it for a trial.
I need to re-read all that aspect though re K channels, Sodium channels and Glutamate, etc. as it is a bit dense for my brain at present and I may have the Benzo aspect wrong re this. However, it is now clear that the "bad Glutamate excitation" thing for
acute, short term audile destruction stuff is more than clear (thanks
@benryu!!!) and finally I have a handle on all that aspect my doc was working on some years ago, but way too late. I have now shown him how his 'neuroexcitation' glutamate tendencies for treatment are pretty much irrelevant after the amount of time since I got hit by the meds and such in 2006. Seems like K channels are where it's at for us longer term T'ites!
7. Last question...SO WHO IS ON THE DRUG NOW??? Is it just Christian and Matt? And maybe Lep???
As I can get back on board and try this stuff as have the green light on the prescription and the Canada prices are OK for my budget. However, I'm wondering why so few others are on it unless it is only due to 'terrified docs' refusing to write scrips?! My doc (who has a chronic illnesses practice with about a dozen other MD's, ND's, OD's, etc.) saw the light right away and realized the risks were 'longer term' and well within the boundaries of "OK" for a short term therapeutic trial. We do have a long term relationship and he knows I'm not an idiot so will taper real slow, but it sounds like lots of others on this thread have such relationships with docs or medical professionals - so am I missing something??????
OK, long enough post and excuse the pedantic format, but was the best way I could see to update myself and you all...as yes, I am still a candidate for 'guinea pig' status here and picking up where I left off, but was hoping there would be a dozen more of you on it by the time I got back from my "mountain high".
Ahhhh...stretch, yawn, creak and crack. That 50 pound pack was a bear to load up those steep rock passes, but not bad for my little 64 year old frame! Ha, ha...Not quite ready to "Potiga it" today...need a bit more "re-integration" time I think.
Best to all, and again many, many thanks to all you dedicated T helpers.
Zimichael