FDA Issues Suicide Warning For Two Drugs Widely Prescribed for Diabetic Neuropathic Pain

Page Changed: Other Dangerous Drugs for People with Diabetes

Noted that the FDA is adding a warning to the labels of Lyrica and Topomax warning that these drugs, widely prescribed for neuropathic pain, cause suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Note that these drugs do not treat the underlying causes of neuropathy which will continue to worsen while people are taking these drugs. They only mask the brain's ability to perceive the pain. Ignoring neuropathic pain will lead to numbness and immune system failure. This leads to infections that will not heal, huge gaping holes in the tissue of the feet which become gangrenous, and amputation.

If you have neuropathy you can reverse the damage to your nerves by lowering your post-meal blood sugars below 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) and if possible even lower than that. Use the strategies described here:

How to Get Your Blood Sugar Under Control

If this dietary strategy is not effective insist that your doctor help you find safe drugs that will lower your blood sugar to that zone in conjunction with dietary changes. Doctors who tell you that 7% A1cs are sufficient to avoid neuropathy have not seen the evidence. If your doctor tells you this is true, ask how many of his patients with 7% A1cs have suffered severe foot infections.