Patient education: Managing neuropathy from your medicines (The Basics)

What is neuropathy? — 

This is nerve damage. The "peripheral" nerves are most often affected. These are the nerves that pass signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. These might include the nerves that help your body move and keep balance, or the nerves that help you touch, taste, smell, see, and hear.

You might have different symptoms depending on which nerves are damaged. Symptoms might include:

●Weakness

●Trouble balancing or walking

●Numbness or loss of feeling

●Tingling

●Pain or a burning feeling

Which medicines can cause neuropathy? — 

When a medicine causes neuropathy, it is called a "side effect." This might happen because the medicine damaged part of the nerve cells. This can interfere with the signals sent by the nerves.

You might have problems with neuropathy if you take medicines to treat conditions like:

●Abnormal heart rhythm

●Cancer

●Infection

●Seizures

●Autoimmune conditions

●HIV

●High cholesterol

●Gout

You can also have neuropathy from taking vitamin B6 supplements.

What can I do on my own to help with neuropathy? — 

The most important thing you can do is to tell your doctor or nurse if you are having symptoms of neuropathy, as well as any other side effects. Tell them as soon as possible, because some neuropathies can get worse if you keep taking the medicine.

They will tell you if you should keep taking the medicine, change your dose, or switch to another medicine. But do not stop taking any medicine without talking to them first.

To help with your neuropathy symptoms, you should:

●Ask your doctor about medicines that might help with pain or other symptoms caused by your neuropathy. If they suggest any new medicines, take them exactly as instructed.

•Some medicines used to treat seizures or depression can also treat neuropathy.

•Non-prescription pain medicines might help. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Quit smoking, if you smoke – Smoking can reduce blood flow to the peripheral nerves. This can make your symptoms worse. Your doctor or nurse can help you quit.

●Work with your doctor to treat any other conditions that can affect nerves, like diabetes or HIV. If you have one of these and it's not well managed, this can make neuropathy worse.

Nerve damage from neuropathy can affect your balance and increase your risk of infection and injury. To help prevent this:

●Try to avoid falls – Weakness and trouble balancing can increase your risk of falling.

•Get rid of things in your home that might cause you to trip. This might include furniture, electrical cords, clutter, and loose rugs. Keep your home well-lit so you can easily see where you're going. Avoid storing things in high places so you don't have to climb or reach.

•Use "assistive devices" to help you get around safely – These can help if you are having balance problems or trouble walking. They include devices such as hand and foot braces, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair.

•Physical therapy can help you learn how to use an assistive device. It can also help you move more easily, improve your balance, and prevent falls.

●Check your feet regularly – If you have nerve damage in your feet, it is important to check them every day. That's because you might not be able to feel pain if you have a cut, blister, or other injury. Look for sores, cracks, or signs of infection. These can lead to serious problems, especially if you have diabetes. If you have trouble seeing your feet, ask someone else to check them, or go to your doctor or nurse.

●Avoid burns, frostbite, or cuts – Nerve damage can make it harder to feel temperature changes or pain. Be very careful when outside in the cold, handling hot objects, using hot water, or using anything sharp that could cause injury.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if you have:

●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or a wound that will not heal

●New numbness or weakness in a foot or leg

●Worse pain or other symptoms

●Swelling, redness, or warmth around a wound

●A bad smell coming from a wound, or yellow, green, or bloody discharge

More on this topic

Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Neuropathic pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Peripheral neuropathy (The Basics)
Patient education: Nerve damage caused by diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Preventing falls in adults (The Basics)

Patient education: Diabetic neuropathy (Beyond the Basics)