ANTI-SEIZURE MEDICATIONS (NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS)
Neuroleptic drugs are often prescribed to help patients with nerve type pain (which typically shows as leg pain) and for patients who have neuropathy(degeneration of the nerves). These drugs can also be helpful for patients who have continued leg pain after surgery.
While it is not well understood why they help relieve pain, patients may take neuroleptic drugs safely for prolonged periods of time. They are not addictive and are well tolerated by most patients. As an example of neuroleptic medication, gabapentin (e.g. Neurontin) is commonly prescribed in dosages of 300-400 mg taken three times daily. Side effects may include fatigue, dizziness, or nausea.
ALCOHOL AVOIDANCE
While alcohol is sometimes used as a self-prescribed medication to help deal with chronic pain, it probably causes far more problems than it solves and should not be used to treat low back pain. Although alcohol will act as a muscle relaxant, it does not have any actual analgesic (pain killing) effect.
Moreover, from a pharmacology standpoint, alcohol is a major depressant and will exacerbate any preexisting depression and is also dangerously habit-forming (addictive). It is fattening and tends to impede a patient’s overall rehabilitation process. On the whole, large doses of alcohol may seem to help temporarily but will compound the many already existing problems a patient with chronic pain faces.