Problem: Article: Anticonvulsant medications are one of the most common treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. Your doctor may prescribe one or more anticonvulsants until he finds the one that works the best to manage your pain symptoms.  Anticonvulsant medications are typically prescribed instead of traditional painkillers (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are not as effective at blocking the electrical signals from the misfiring neurons that are causing the sensations of pain.  Carbamazepine is the usual initial anticonvulsant medication treatment since it’s been studied the most. You may experience drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting as side effects, but they may not be as prominent if you start with a lower dose and titrate up slowly.  Oxcarbazepine is similar to carbamazepine in effectiveness and may be better tolerated, but is more expensive. Gabapentin and lamotrigine are often used for patients who cannot tolerate carbamazepine. Baclofen may be a useful medication to take alongside the anticonvulsant, particularly in patients with TN related to multiple sclerosis. Anticonvulsant medications may lose their efficacy over time as they build up in the bloodstream; at this point, your doctor may switch your prescription to a different anticonvulsant that your body has not grown insensitive to or use adjunct therapy with another medication such as lamotrigine. Tricyclic antidepressants are commonly used to manage symptoms of depression but they can also be prescribed to manage chronic pain.  Tricyclic antidepressants are often effective in managing chronic pain conditions, such as atypical facial pain, but are not generally useful in classical trigeminal neuralgia. Tricyclic antidepressants tend to be prescribed in lower doses for chronic pain management versus when they are used to treat depression.  Common tricyclic antidepressants used to treat chronic pain include amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Analgesics and opioids are not useful in managing the paroxysms of pain in classical TN. However, some people with TN2 respond to analgesics and opioids.  TN2 consists of constant pain that can be dampened by these medications as they build up in the bloodstream, while TN1 consists of sharp recurring pain episodes that cannot effectively be lessened by these drugs.  Your doctor can prescribe analgesics and opioids such as allodynia, levorphanol, or methadone. Antispasmodic agents are used to ease pain sensations caused by trigeminal neuralgia attacks. They are sometimes used in conjunction with anticonvulsants.  Antispasmodics, otherwise known as muscle relaxants, are prescribed to treat trigeminal neuralgia because they inhibit involuntary muscle movements that can be triggered by misfiring neurons during a trigeminal neuralgia episode. Common antispasmodics include Kemstro, Gablofen, and Lioresal; these are all members of the baclofen family of drugs. Your doctor may consider Botox injections to treat your trigeminal neuralgia if you become insensitive and unresponsive to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, and antispasmodic medications.  Botox may be effective for pain management in patients with trigeminal neuralgia, especially those with rapid muscle twitching, but there have not been many studies to know the results.  Many people feel uncomfortable considering Botox injections due to negative connotations from their use in plastic surgery; however, you should not discount this treatment modality because it can effectively help you to manage your chronic facial pain after you have exhausted your other options. Botox injections may be beneficial for patients that have medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia, though there isn’t a lot of data. Alternative medicine options have not been studied enough to be determined as effective for treating trigeminal neuralgia. Even so, many people report some pain relief from modalities such as acupuncture and nutritional therapy.
Summary: Ask your doctor about anticonvulsant medicines. Get a prescription for tricyclic antidepressants. Avoid analgesics and opioids. Try antispasmodic agents. Ask about Botox injections. Consider alternative medicine.

Problem: Article: If your pet seems to display intense symptoms of separation anxiety, you may ask your vet for advice on how you can ease your pet into the transition. Your pet may require certain training techniques to help them become more comfortable with being alone. Your vet can recommend certain tricks and tips to help your pet get used to being on their own while you are away. Most pets will adapt to your absence within 48 hours, as long as you prepare them and set up a good environment for them at home. If they do not adapt, there may be other medical issues that could be causing the anxiety. Your pet should have regular check ups with your vet to make sure they are in good health and are not at risk of injury if they are left alone. You do not want your pet to become sick or ill while you are away. If your dog still displays severe separation anxiety, where they urinate or defecate in inappropriate places, exhibit destructive behavior, or have intense vocalizations like whining, barking, meowing, or howling, you may follow up with your vet. Your vet may recommend making adjustments to your pet’s daily habits and training so you can both deal with the separation anxiety in a proactive way.
Summary:
Ask your vet for advice. Make sure your pet is healthy before you leave them alone. Follow up with your vet if there are issues.