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Global Patient Feedback for Neurontin (Gabapentin) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Gabapentin for one year now. 100MG 3 times per day for restless leg syndrome. It helps but not all the time. About 2 nights per week I am up all night walking around as my legs hurt so bad. I thought it was circulation problems but my doctor told me its not. So 5 nights a week I sleep and then randonly 2 nights per week its like the medicine is not working. The side effects for me are some dizzyness, and feeling very tired. I don't like feeling this way but I want to sleep those 5 nights so I stay on the medication.
60 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-23 15:17:18
Answer/Reply:
100 Mg 3 xs is pretty mild, you may wish to speak with your Dr about increasing your dose at night or adding REQUIP pill at bedtime which is for RLS.
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-25 18:40:43
Answer/Reply:
If you would like a restful nights sleep read about these products
www.trivita.com/13176062 They have a money back guarantee
Let me know if they help you.
Peggy Dyer
prom716@frontiernet.net
65 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-25 19:36:28
Question/Comment:
i started Gabapentin in Aug 2007 (600mg/2x day). It worked fine for awhile then I started getting more leg cramps and pain in my left leg. So, I ask my doc for something different. I tried Lyrica for two weeks and that made my ankles swell and by the end of work I would go home straight to bed.
I have a large bulging disc (22mm) with nerve damage in my left leg. I am also Bipolar.
I have now gone back on Gabapentin (started up again this past Friday) and now taking 800mg (3x day). Hopefully this helps me again. Last night I awoke with extreme leg cramps that made me get out of bed at 4am to try and walk it off and then again at 9am.
Thanks for listening!
41 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-21 20:24:27
Answer/Reply:
Due to a car accident, I was put on Gabapentin at 10 x 100mg a day. My spinal cord injury left me an incomplete paraplegic ( I can still walk with the aid of a leg brace and a walker but I have horrific neuropathic nerve pain). Gabapentin helped with the pain but I still had shooting leg pains that it didn't help. I had been on Gabapentin for about 6 months and my doctor put me on Lyrica 3 x 100 mg per day. It is helping, but I still have shooting pains. They are not as severe nor as often. If needed I am allowed to take up to 2 100mg of Gabapentine when the pain starts. Both meds truly helped me be more productive--I can get through the day without debilitating pain.
56 year old female
57 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-16 21:36:13
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I, too, suffered a spinal cord injury that left me with seizures and a permanent nerve block in my back. I took several different narcotics for the pain over the yrs but the neurontin has helped more than anything. I wouldnt stop taking it now for anything. I deal with the side effects as they come. the positive results are far better than the negative effects. Good luck to you and your endeavers!
Posted: 2009-03-19 18:23:33
Answer/Reply:
I have MS and I take provigil and gabapentin. I thought you would like to know that you can buy the generic--gabapentin--at Costco for 14 dollars. I want to pass that on because I know the high cost of medicine!! Hope it helps. I wish they had generic in the provigil, but they don't
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-23 13:55:09
Answer/Reply:
Try taking a multivitamin a night in addition to one taken in the morning. It seems to help me with night time leg cramps.
56 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-24 07:18:19
Question/Comment:
I have been on gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day since end of 12/2008. I've had 2 cervical fusions one in 1996 and 2nd in 2008. After 2d surgery, pain continues, developed burning sensations, etc. I could only work a few hours a day and do nothing after coming home. Since taking this in December, it has changed my work hours and daily quality of life. I am functioning much better. I still have weakness and being extremely tired - but I think I can contribute this to being so much more usefulness/mobility/less pain since on this medication, that I am wearing myself out! (A good thing) I have seen such relief with this medication. Yes, some side effects that I have noticed is weight gain, grogginess, unstableness - but it seems to be subsiding. I have been on numerous pain meds with no success. This has been a god send to me. The benefits outweigh the risks as far as I am concerned.
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-21 10:24:09
Question/Comment:
My neurologist put me on gabapentin back in 2003 as a prophylactic for my cluster headaches. It causes me to have imbalance issues, and I have fallen several times. I need to walk with a can or use a walker. I am also on Topamax for the same reason, however, the doctor said it does not cause balance issues. Is anyone else experiencing this imbalance issue on gabapentin? I also have a tendency to drop things, because my perception is off. When I think the edge of the table or cutting board is there, I am actually just short of it and the glass or cup falls. Does this sound familiar? Please let me know.
55 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-19 15:55:39
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
There are many things that may cause balancing problems which includes problem relating to the ear, the brain or it may be drug induced. There are some reports of abnormal coordination with both gabapentin and Topamax but it is not a common side effect. Since there are so many other things that might contribute to balancing problems, it is difficult to determine if your medication is truly linked to the problem. You may want to follow up with your doctor about this symptom – your doctor may want to further investigate this symptom or he or she may be willing to lower your dose of one of the medications to see if you reduce this side effect.
Posted: 2009-02-23 14:04:06
Answer/Reply:
I have been on gabapentin for the last 10 years also for cluster headaches and mini strokes. I do have balance issues. One such fall landed me with two shattered bones in my lower leg which have not healed yet (it has been 18 months since it happened) I do find that my perception is off and I often do not grab an item that is handed to me or l miss the edge of counters, doors etc. So yes I don't think it is just you, I think this probably happens to a lot of people taking this drug.
Patricia Age 52
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-05 15:35:29
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking gabepentin (neurotin) 300 mg 3 times a day for 4 years now, I take it for the lightning bolt fire pains down my legs, I also take skelaxin and (Lortab)Hydocodone 7.5 for pain .I had 2 back surgeries 9 months apart,they messed up the 1st time, had to go back in to extend my fusion to 3 vertebrae in my lower back and implant a bone growth stimulator,my bones wouldn't fuse. I am a female 41 years old,and I have experienced the tossing of my coffee for no reason ,missing the table with my glass, tripping up the stairs because my foot doesn't raise high enough, I get dizzy if I stand too fast,I am also fatigued easily, I blame it all on the gabepentin,and I don't care what the doctor says I think yours is from it too.I am a grandma too of 5 and a week ago I almost dropped the 1 yr old off my lap, cause he jumped,I caught him, but I hurt for 2 days over 1 second of umpth, and this medication also takes my strength away,not that I have any I can lift 4 to 5 pounds.I hurt 24,7's even with all the medication. My point is yes these tendencies to drop things sounds familiar.and after 4 years it seems to get worse because the level was raise from 150mg 4x day to 300mg 3x day, seems when I complained, the doc raised the level. Imagine that. Hope you get better,I feel for you.sorry to let you know it only seems to get worse as the years go by,with 1 day running into the next ,my whole sense of time is confused too,as well as my balance,I really think the medication is bad for me,but without it I become very grouchy when the pain worsens,so I try to never miss a dose,I know within 1 hour if I do.and it takes about 1 1/2 hours to start working.It seems the doctors prescribe this for everything and last week I read the package insert, it says it is a seizure medication,so I don't really understand why I have to take it :I have never had a seizure.you and I should each check into this ,I am questioning my doc next visit,I hope I have helped you, it helps me to read about others,have a great (painfree) day!
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-09 16:45:29
Answer/Reply:
I too am a female of 57 yrs., and have been taking Gabapentin, 300 mgs. 4xdaily for 9 yrs. now. As far as the perception problems I have not had any, (yet). But as for the dropping things, yes that happens, but only when I'm late taking a dose. Just like the other lady I can tell within a half hour of when the dose is due. There is a warning on the label that this medication will cause Dizziness, and make you Drowsy, especially when taken with Alcohol, so be aware of that. As my doctor explained to me, the Neurontin is to boost the pain killing power of whatever drug you are taking for pain, and surprisingly this does work. If you have been on this for awhile DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS SUDDENLY, WITHOUT YOUR DOCTORS ORDERS!!!! My doctor has warned me of this many times because I hate taking pills, but find that I have to, just to be able to function. I wish all of you the best and I can understand your concern, but sometimes this is all one big trade off just to help the pain.
58 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-20 12:10:55
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Hi I have been on Neurotin for three years now, i am on quite a few meds so somtimes it is hard to know which med is working and which isnt. I do think the Neurotin works. I am taking it for my spasms that i get. I am sleeply alot but that can be due to my other meds. And if i miss more than two doeses of anything i get really dizzy and have a hard time sleeping. I can sleep for two days straight. I do have ms, firbro, sleep apnea, serve depression. hope this helps in some way to someone. I do reccomend the Neurotin.
Posted: 2009-03-17 13:20:50
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking Gabapentin since 2002, 1800 mg. a day with no side effects, except dry mouth, and insomnia. I take it for post-shingles neuralgia pain in my face/ear/mouth.
72 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 16:53:34
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking Gabapentin since 2002, 1800 mg. a day with no side effects, except dry mouth, and insomnia. I take it for post-shingles neuralgia pain in my face/ear/mouth. It does help, if I miss a dose, .....the pain does increase.
72 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 16:56:27
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I have been on Gabapentin for several years. Started out 300 3x a day, now its 300 2x a day.I am also an insulin dependent diabetic & started Dialyiis Jan, 2007. Also I had a mild stroke in 2000 which left my right side off. I started off with a walker, progressed to a cane & now walk very carefully as my balance & depth perception is off. After I was cut back to 2 times a day the cramps lessened. ( they were worse at night) I take 10 different medications so their are lots of side effects you just can't do much about as my doctors all say I need what i'm taking.
Posted: 2009-03-17 18:53:59
Answer/Reply:
Yes, this sounds way too familar. I am on many different medications, I was on Topamax at one time also, after some time being on it I too got the symtoms you are describing but when I complainted about the symtoms to my neurologist he told me that it wasn't the Topamax. I brought it up with my 3 other doctors I go to, and they called it Topamax "DOPE - A - MAX", because of the way they feel it makes a patient behave overall. Since I have been off of it I no longer have those symptoms exactly like I had with being on Topamax. I never took Gabapentin, so I can't speak to you about that drug. I was electrucuted over 10 years ago and suffer from many problems one of them being migrains, cluster headaches, so severe they can wipe out weeks of my life at a time.(I get a headache, take drugs, get rebound headache, get migraine, take drugs, rebound headach and so on and so on...). That might sound familuar to you. What my neurologist started doing and it works fantastic for me is Botox treatments for my migrains. The treatments have cut my various headaches in half. It has made the various headaches "manageable" where as needed migraine medication helps so much more. I don't have to be on a daily medication. After so many years of massive drugs my liver and kidneys can't keep this up, so with limited severe long term migrains and such, I can continue other medication I need to take for other problems. Before Botox became "Cosmetic useage, it was used for medical conditions, there are so many more areas that Botox can help than people are aware of. They only hear of Botox for cosmetics. The shots are given in specific spot on my forhead, temple, skull, neck. I have been doing it for several years and it helps so much more than anything else and believe me I have been on every kind of drug imaginable!!! Look into it, I am running out of characters to type so I need to end now, Good Luck and God Bless
47 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-19 18:10:38
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking gabapentin for 9 yrs. 700 mg twice a day. I had a back injury that led to seizures and numbing pain in my back and hip. Yes, I do feel "drunk" about 2 to 2 1/2 hrs after I take it. I have fallen down stairs and rammed my head into door facings. I continue to take the meds cause I remember the pain before taking the medication. It has all but stopped my seizures and thats a blessing. I have taken several narcotics for the pain over the yrs and the gabapentin seems to have the leasts amount of side effects. Also you may feel its difficult to wean yourself off of this drug after taking it for some time. Good luck to you and hope things work out
43 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-19 18:13:33
Answer/Reply:
I am a 62 year old female, and I take Neurontin 900 mg 3 times a day to control Restless Legs Syndrome which we thing is related to the Spinal Stenosis that I have. I don't tolerate the generic, Gabapentin. I, too, find that my fine control and perception are slightly off, and my feet don't always land where I thought I was putting them. I have lost my balance several times, although falls were not a problem. I do, also, sometimes get my feet tangled up when first standing, but have only had hard landings in a chair, not a fall. I hope this helps you.
63 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-20 23:56:21
Question/Comment:
I have only been on Gabapentin for 3 mos now and I too suffer from nerve pain from buldging discs in the neck, shoulder pain from a pinched nerve, fibromyalgia, and sleepApnea, I have tried alot of diiferent Pain meds in the past including a variety of anti depressants with no relief until the gabapentin I started out with 300 three a day and it did make me groggy , daytime sleepy , everyones body I here will tolerate this medication differently. as for me I have not had any of the reactions and it has helped me tremendously deal with the pain , before that I couldnt even clean my own house without dealing with extra pain on top of the pain I already had so I feel too that it is worth trying.
51 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-08 18:11:38
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking gabapentin for over 2 years I take 800 two times a day for nerve,back, leg, disc problem without it I can't even lay in bed.
I also take other medication with it but this is my main source of relief.
I have an implant for pain but I can't use it all the time.
67 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-05 19:02:32
Answer/Reply:
I am currently on 700 of Neurontin(Gabapentin) in the evening. I take it at 5;30pm because any later and I wasn't able to wake up in the morning. My dr. wanted me up to at least 900 and then to start a daytime dose but again the drowsiness is preventing me from increasing my dose. Right now I have broken out in a rash, have increased joint pain and my liver function is off. I go for a ultrasound in the morning. Gall bladder has been gone since 1992. Showering feels like I am holding a match to my skin. Typing this hurts. Have you had any of these kind of symptoms. I admit I'm on a ton of meds but the neurontin is the newest.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-05 20:00:14
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Drowsiness is a common side effect of Neurontin. There have been a few reports of rash and joint pain with Neurontin. It is a good idea to let your doctor know about your symptoms and see if he or she wants to adjust or change your medication.
Posted: 2009-03-16 14:34:34
Question/Comment:
i have been on gabapentin 300 mg for a week taking it twice a day having severe back pain, hip and leg pain balance problems not taking it any more
76 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-08 12:16:03
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
March 4, 2009
The Patient :
Age; 81
Brand Name: Neurontin
Generic Name: Gabapentin
FOR: Peripheral Neuropathy
300MG Capsule
Three (3) times daily (Total 900 MG a day).
HOW LONG? – Over 3 years
Moderately Effective
SIDE EFFECTS: Moderate Side Effects -
Rate your overall experience with this drug (Gaberpentin) 4 out 10
WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS DOES THE PATIENT HAVE? MCI - Mild Cerebral I, (Arecept 10MG. once a day at bedtime); Type 2 Diabetes (Metformin 850 MG two times a day);; Benign Prostate (Flomax -0.4 MG at bedtime) Thyroid Synthroid ( 0.1MG- One rime daily)
BENRFITS OF TREATMENT: Unsure - My legs ache. I don't remember ever having any real pain, other than an annoying ache in both legs. When I think about it I feel as though I am walking in damp fishing boots. There is a (electric type) buzzing in my legs and feet. Has, over the past several years, crept up from my ankles to above my knees. With all this I do very well walking a slow pace - sometimes like a drunken Sailor (balance). I walk down 101 stairs tale a short ¼+ mile walk and come back up 2 at a time (slowly) holding onto a rail (now).
REAL SIDE EFFECTS: Memory and problem solving - Constant tiredness, lack of interest. Hard to concentrate on necessary Paperwork - i.e. Taxes (TurboTax) Last year I had no problem with concentrating or filling in the forms on the program. Now I have a hard time concentrating , even sitting down to do it. I was motivated - now I've lost the drive to get the job done - and I know I have to do it. I have trouble understanding now – short term memory problems. I used to look forward to using TurboTax - what I understood last year I can't seem to follow this year..
TREATMENT DETAILS: Take one (1) Gaberpentin capsule (300MG) by mouth three times a day. Morning about breakfast time, Noon before lunch and night after dinner. 1 Unithroid Tab. (1000 MCG) before breakfast. Metformin (850MG) 2 times a day. Morning and night. FLOMAX (0.4 MG) at night after dinner. Aricept (10MG) tab at night after dinner.
AJ
Posted: 2009-03-06 20:29:52
Answer/Reply:
Have been on Gapapentin now since 1999, 400mg, 3 in AM, 3 in PM.
In order to get relieve, I had to allow the drug to build up in my system over a period of about 30 days. It works. Tell your doctor, so he can increase dosage if necessary.
56 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-08 09:20:11
Question/Comment:
I have been on Gabapentin (100mg)2 pills 3X daily for the last 5 years but I take it for 2 reasons, fibromyalgia & Shingles,which is really painful before during and after the blisters go away,I get what I call hot spots on various spots on the right side of my body,it feels like my skin has been scalded,the gabapentin is a miracle drug as far as I'm concerned,my pain level goes down to 1.My Dr. also prescribed Lidocaine patches for the burning pain from the shingles ,you can cut the patches to smaller sizes and don't put them directly on the pain spot but put just above the spot and they really do stop the burning spots,I can actually get up and do some light housework.any side effects that I had at first have gone away.
59 year old female
60 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-06 11:33:25
Question/Comment:
i have been taking gabapentin since August. i had a very bad case of shingles. i find that when taking gabentin i have a problem with my speech. i sometimes have a difficult time getting the words out.
has this happened to anyone else?
78 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-01 19:51:55
Answer/Reply:
It has happened to me to I sometimes feel like I cant talk but It helps the pain so I continue to take it I have 8 kids so I really don't have a choice, its not so bad after u take it for awhile u get used to it I've been on 400mg 3x a day for 2 yrs now. and it relieves alot of my pain.
36 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-04 12:41:27
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I have been on it for 10 years and I do have speech issues with it as well as balance issues. I take 800mg twice a day. It helps me so I figure it is worth it. The only thing is that if I run out or cannot afford to refill I cannot sleep either and feel very tired the next day. Good luck to you and hang in there the drug is worth it.
Patricia Age 52
Posted: 2009-03-05 15:42:15
Question/Comment:
Hello, My name is Michael I am blessed with seizures and 2 heart attacts, and my disability paper say's I am crazy but not dangerous. I take alot of pills heart and stuff but they had me on Neurontin for about 5 Years I was taken it 3 times a day I can't even remember how mqany Mg. I did a day I just new if I did not take that big white pill I would start shaken, then my wife noticed and said I looked like a junkie if I was a couple hours late taken it, so me and the Dr. talk and Lyrica does the job with less Mg. and only twice a day. Write me at MCrawley0963@aol.com and I even have witnesses. Made my life so much better...................
Sincerely,.
Michael
46 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-28 17:46:39
Answer/Reply:
hello michael-lyrika did not work for me and was unable to take do to the side effects it had on me--i have just started the gabapentin and just came off of cymbalta which took my blood pressure to the top--i am hoping that something will work for me as well as you --i am new to all this and wow has all this changed my life--i have so many questions and need the answers as my chest is hurting extremly and need feed back about these drugs that ive been put on--yeah--i know what you mean about the records and what they write and i am with you-its ok we just need help with our diagnosis and you hang in there--if you have any info for me --it would be greatly appreciated as i am also on diazapam and tramadol--like i said im new at this and need feedback---------
32 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-29 11:34:07
Answer/Reply:
Hello new to this. I have had 4 ureter and kidney surgeries on the left side within the past 3 years and have acquired chronic pain from the surgeries and the fact that my kidney is hydronephrotic and about 3 times the size of a normal one. I have been on at times oxycodone, Opana ER, hydrocodone and fentanyl patch. After not much success with any of them, I am currently taking 40-60mg of hydrocodone and the 50 mc/hour Fentanyl patch, over the past year they have tried Tramadol (made my anxiety and panic attacks worse) which I quit, Gabapentin (by the time I had any pain relief the dose was so high I was fatigued and had trouble with memory), I think I was on 300mg 3 times a day, so I quit it. Thay are now trying Lyrica which seems to be helping a little (just started a week ago) 75mg 3 times a day and going to 150mg 3 times a day in a couple days, but I told them I have to try something else because I cannot afford the $210 a month for 1 medication that's with insurance. Now they want me to try topamax but I told the pharmacist when I went to pick it up that I can't afford the $80 a month for that either. I told my doctor I need something Generic but it must be hard to find something as it seems most people do relatively ok on the Gabapentin, but other than Gabapentin it doesn't appear there are many choices. Hang in there.
46 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-14 16:13:53
Question/Comment:
I have been taking gabapentin since february... It was introduced to me in detox for alcoholism,and has been helping with cravings, hot flashes due to menopause, and chronic neurological and leg surgery pain..i causes a feeling of peace with me, but not a high feeling like pain killers.I also take mobic and sometimes soma, but I havenot taken a narcotic since october after ankle surgery. Any comments from other former addicts??? 53 year old female
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-20 22:54:09
Question/Comment:
i'm only 30 and i have fybro if any of u want to talk about this e mail me at srd273@yahoo.com
31 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-12 17:14:05
Answer/Reply:
What do you want to talk about. I have Fibro and have been on Neurontin since 1999. Have you been on Neurontin as well for our condition?
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-23 12:57:57
Question/Comment:
I really think that the homeopathic and natural remedies are better. Here is why: I was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome, after participating in an extensive study where my brain waves and body were monitored overnight in a sleep study. My doctor prescribed Requip, saying, "You don't have Sleep Apnea, but it runs in your family, so I'm trying this." I slowly titrated onto the Requip, which worked wonders for some time. Unfortunately, being a poor person on Medicare, my pharmacy wanted me to switch to the generic, Ropinorole. I used that for several months, and I was waking up nights and falling asleep days. My doctor sent a note to the pharmacy saying, 'No substitutions allowed'. They said, "Sorry, you HAVE to take the generic. So I went back to the Sleep doctor who said, "We've been switching all of our patients to the Ropinorole also. Actually, you are one of the first patients we've tried this with, and you've been on it longer than any of our other patients." So then, he wrote a prescription for 'Gabapentin' and said, 'Try this." I had seen a bottle of something called 'Hyland's Restful Legs' in the drugstore, and asked him about it. He said, "Try that for a few weeks before starting the Gabapentin. If it works, go with that." My problem is that the prescriptions are often free, so its hard for me to spend real money on a homeopathic remedy, even if it works better. Last week, I was only using the homeopathic stuff and Melatonin. Last night, I restarted the Gabapentin since I'd gone to the pharmacy and gotten a large bottle for NOTHING. I forgot what dose I was taking, and took two. I could not get out of bed or move in the morning and never made it to church at all!
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-11 19:29:26
Question/Comment:
I have been having some issues with hot flashes and insomnia. My doctor first prescribed Clonidine, which I took one night and slept worse than I had been! Now he has prescribed taking 1 300mg. Gabapentin at bedtime. I took it last night and I think it did help with my hot flashes and sleep, but I woke up feeling really dizzy and tired. Most people I have read about on this site deal with a lot of pain, Fibromyalgia, migraines, etc. and the side effects people have experienced really scares me! My issues seem pretty mild to be taking something like this regularly. I think I am going to try some natural products, or over the counter before I get too far into this medication. I had some sleep issues about 10 years ago and was on a low dose of Amytripline (sp?) for a while but weaned myself off gradually. My issues are due to Menopause, and I don't think this is the right course of treatment for me. Thanks for all the info!
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-10 12:51:57
Answer/Reply:
Anytime you can get by without medicines like these, you should. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anti-seizure medication. I've been on it since 1999 and hope to go off soon. I was prescribed it for Fibromyalgia and believe I never should have been.
God bless you. The hot flashes and insomnia is always better, also, if you don't eat too late at night, just FYI...
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-23 13:00:26
Question/Comment:
I have RSDS and I take gabapentin 400mg 4x a day.I also have back problems. I have had weight
gain but I am not sure if it is do to meds. or lack of of mobility .I do at times become sleepy after taking meds. They have been good as far as my pain goes .Every once in awhile due to my pain they seem to only last 3 hours instead of 6.But I am pleased so far with them.
44 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-09 03:38:35
Answer/Reply:
hi im a 47 yr old female , i take 800 mg 3 times a day for nerve damanage in my thighs feet from diabeties. and without it , or i miss a dose, my pain forgets who has the upper hand . ive been on it for sometime , yes at times i get sleepy ,but i take 9 or 10 different pills aday .sorry about my spelling but i had no problem with theses meds , i like it ,it helps ease,s the discomfortfeels i get .
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-22 23:25:41
Answer/Reply:
I too have RSDS and have tried almost every drug there is to stop pain, burning, seizures and so on. I take almost 1000mg of oxycontin which only takes the edge off the pain. I now am deleting some of the oxy and putting in 10 or 20mgs of methodone. All is ok so far. I do use gabapentin for seizures at night just as i'm falling asleep. I take 300mg two to three times a day and it has done a super job. But as with any drug my body is getting use to it and i will have to up the dose another 300mg. I also take lorzepan to sleep at night and for the fear of what ever. Now there is one more drug, I take 300mg of zoloft a day however, it has out lived it's usefulness but if i stop I will have problems. So at this point it is just being used to maintain my body only. The methadone makes me sleepy. The oxy gives me the sweats.
The lorzepan and zoloft not sure were they fit in for all of this but i'm sure that they contribute.
So as it stands no matter what you take for what ever medical problem you have, the side effects will be there. You have to decide which is better, the pain or the side effects. The only thing that get me through the day without me wanting to end it all is the fact that I have turned it all over to the Lord. I sure can't fix it and there isn't doctor who can fix it so who is left but him. So there you have it GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU WITH PAIN may your days and nights get better.
59 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-18 16:59:50
Question/Comment:
I have MS, and have been taking Neurontin for more than 5 years. It helps with all the pain, tingling, jerking. I like the fact that I can take just two tablets a day and keep things under control most days, but those days when I need more I can safely take it, sleep of course, but some times you have to give up a little to get to the other side.
59 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-28 16:56:50
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I too have been taking Neurontin for over 5 years. It was a miracle for me since it relieved all the annoying M.S.symptoms and my restless leg syndrome too. I take Effexor in the morning along with the Neurontin. Suicidal thoughts increased? M.S. alone can increase these thoughts. Unfortunately we all get hooked on these meds and getting off of them isn't easy. Seems I am just increasing the doses as my M.S. worsens. Wonder what the limits are for these drugs? Think I am about maxed out now. Just find a damn cure for M.S. and I won't have to keep filling my body with these lethal chemicals. Steroids ruined my bones.
It's a catch-22 with these M.S. drugs. Are there other drugs that relieve the pain and discomfort that Neurontin does without all these side effects?
Posted: 2009-01-06 16:31:47
Question/Comment:
I am a 77 year old female and have been taking gabapentine 300 mg. twice a day, morning and night. I have noticed ,here of late, that my neck and head bother me a great deal. I do have to lay down for about an hour when the neck bothers me as I feel somewhat dizzy. I nap about an hour and the pain in the neck is not there. During the night when I get up to go to the bathroom, I have to sit on the bed for a minute or so as I feel very dizzy. I know I take other medications that the side effects could be dizziness and when I mention it to the doctor, he does not say anything. I just don't want to fall being here alone. Thank You
79 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-28 14:33:43
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
does gabapentin possibly cause vertigo on a dosage of 300 mg three times a day?
Posted: 2009-01-09 10:32:00
Question/Comment:
I have been taking 900 mg 3 times per day for several years (don't remember when I started). It has reduced the pain of ideopathic peripheral neuropathy enough that I can get to sleep at night and am no longer awakened by the pain/burning/tingling. I haven't had any of the severe side-effects and it's difficult to know if it contributes to drowsiness or weight gain, since several other medications I take have those side-effects as well.
62 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-24 10:07:14
Answer/Reply:
July of 2007 I had a surgery that went terribly wrong I ended up with a damaged sciatic nerve due to a doctor drilling a screw directly into the nerve. Needless to say I have permanent nerve damage and am now disabled for life if I am lucky I am able to sleep 2-4 hours a night. I was put on Lyrica to try and help with some of my pain but of course it has no generic yet so expense wise I cant get it due to the cost of my Oxycontin and YES I do know how addictive it is but when it gets to the point that every step you take you want to cut your own legs off believe me you take what you need. Now I did try Neurontin I have been on different doses at one point one of my doctors had me on 800 mg 3 times a day. To read what everyone else is saying most people have really major side effects. The ONLY problem I ever had was massive swelling ie... wait gain/puffiness to the point I was not recognizable by one of my own kids when he come back after a 3 week trip. That scared me more than anything so I cut myself back to 300 mg 3x a day. Wow what a difference. It does help somewhat with my other meds but I have gone days without it and not felt much of a difference. I wish it did help like it does some of you. I could sure use the break from the cost of my pain killers. My doctor told me unfortunately my injuries from my surgeons mistake are to extensive and severe and that is why Neurontin simply isn't enough. Keeping my fingers crossed that someday they will come up with a way to repair the damage that was done to my back L5-S1. Yeah it was a simple herniated disc originally and the doctor OOPS slipped while putting the hardware in. My advice to anyone NEVER and I mean NEVER let a doctor cut on your back. I am 46 mother of a 14 yr old girl and 17 yr old boy and can't even get out to watch my daughter sing in her choir at school unless I dose up and use my walker or cane. Be careful out there everyone doctors mean well most of them but they are like everyone else they make mistakes but we as patients have to live with their mistakes not them. I have had a total of 5 surgeries & no not by the same doctor 4 of them was to try and repair the 1st surgery screw up. I now have a stimulater implanted on my spinal chord with a rechargeable battery buried 1 inch under my skin on my hip it helps but not without my pain medication, anti-inflammatory, nerve spasm meds and so on and so on. Really think before you let someone cut on you. If anyone wants to know more information on the stimulator email me and I can give you some information on it. pdobbelaere1984@sbcglobal.net
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-05 21:23:23
Answer/Reply:
hi im a soon to be 48 yr old female [ next week ] but i also take neurontin, 800 mg x3 daily, i too swell , from my feet to my eyes . i take it for nerve damage in my thighs pinch nerves also diabities , i cant tell you how bad the pain gets , but i also suffer copd , but the neurontin is just for the nerve s . i also have high bloold pressure who can handle all the hard pain ? gee not me ! and i put on the water , so we live for the bathroom . did i forget , oxygen and im a widow ? looking for all and any kind of help breathing problems too , but thats a nother story.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-18 22:46:05
Question/Comment:
I am a 61 year old male. I have just started taking Gabapentin 300 MG capsules. Just taking 1 a day right now until i get use to the drug then it will be 3 a day. I have Degenerative Disc Disease and i have pain in my spin and legs from my head to my toes. the only thing i know right now it makes me sleep right after i take it which is good now but dont know how the rest of the day will go if i sleep all the time. When i do wake up in the morning i have some pain but not real bad. For the 1st couple of hrs i feel weak and can not think stright. I hope that when i get use to Gabapentin this will go away if it dont i dont know what i will do. I will keep u updated on what happens.
62 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-24 09:55:55
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking 900mg 3x a day for neuropathic pain (Disc bulge at L4 and L5) for over 3 years now. I didn't notice any problem with sleepiness or any of the other side effects.
Could the sleepiness be caused by any of your other medications? If you are on pain meds, the combination could make you sleepy (additive effect). I was on Ultracet (Tramadol/Tylenol) as needed when I started the gabapentin and noticed that if I took both I felt tired, but if only the gabapentin I was OK.
49 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-24 11:11:48
Answer/Reply:
I've been taking 1200mg 3 times a day for 11 years for 4 discs. Most people get tired at the beginning and it prob wont go away until the full dose is used for a few weeks. This med has been a godsend for the pain and "soaking up" the nerve pain. My only complaint is the increased memory problems. I had weakness and was told that as the body/nerves get use to the meds that it could take months to "right" itself depending on the nerve pain/damage. Remember that the nerves are what stimulate us to move so any disruption will change that and until it's fixed our body will get use to it and adjust with the med.
39 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-26 14:03:27
Question/Comment:
I am 72 years old, I have been taking 300 mg. of Gabipentin for several months, and it does help with my leg pains stemming from lower back problems. I sleep very well most of the time, which I was not doing before. I wake up without pain when my feet hit the floor. Use to have a pulling or horrible acke starting in the buttocks and going down one or both legs clear to my feet. I am over weight, but have no added weight gain since starting this medication. When I started out taking 600 mg. I was a little dizzy and light headed, so cut back to 300 and usually only take a night.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-17 16:32:47
Question/Comment:
I HAD A 3-DISC FUSION AND WAS PRESCRIBED THIS MEDICATION AT FIRST 300 MG THEN IT WAS INCREASED TO 1800 MG A DAY, I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THE MOOD SWINGS THEY BECAME VERY NOTICABLE WITH THE INCREASE IN DOSAGE.THEY HELP WITH SOME OF THE PAIN BY MAKING IT TOLERABLE HOWEVER IT DOES NOT STOP IT
54 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-17 14:46:37
Question/Comment:
I am a 44 year old male. I just started taking gabapentin(300 mg twice a day) in combination with Celexa(20mg once a day) and within 24 hours I started feeling confused, with heightened anxiety, severe insomnia , (which I never suffered from before)and began dropping alot of ordinary objects. After 5 days on these medications I suffered a sever panic attack at work which required my supervisor to contact my doctor who instructed me to immediately stop taking the gabapentin and have someone drive me home from work.
45 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-16 20:48:26
Answer/Reply:
I am 33 and have been on Neurontin for 5 weeks for Bell's Palsy(due to an inner ear surgery that went VERY wrong). They have me on 900mg per day. I have had a lot of the "uncommon" side effects, including memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, and HORRIBLE mood swings!! The doctor seems to think that the benefits out weigh the side effects, but I am beginning to wonder! I have 4 kids and can't drive because of it...kinda makes it hard to be super-mom! It is really starting to drive me nuts!
35 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-20 11:02:13
Question/Comment:
I take Gabapentin for Schizoaffective disorder.
43 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-11 05:42:40
Question/Comment:
I am 54 and I have been given Gabapenting by Nurologist for Spasms in my back told to take 300mg 3 times a day have read a lot about it and thought why not give it a try, so far it has been ok. I started to take it gradualy tokk 1 for a week then started to take 2 it has helped a lot with my neck I have Cervical spondiloses Throacic spondiloses and Lumbar spondiloses compresion of disc and have been told I have damaged nerves, refered back to my GP so he can keep a check on me. So far so good although I do know this can be adititive I was also ive Amitripline to help with sleep but stopped this as it knocked me out, will see how things go
56 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-07 15:37:57
Question/Comment:
I take 300 mg of Gabapentin 3 times a day for hot flashes and night sweats, along with 2.5mg of Amlodipine Besylate daily for highblood pressure,12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide daily for water retention, and 2mg of Clonazepam daily for severe anxiety. Don't see much improvement in blood pressure, hot flashes and night sweats, or anxiety. Any suggestions will be appreciated
51 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-06 13:07:47
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
oh my gosh..i was shocked you take this for hot flashes and night sweats...
have your hormone levels checked...
find a Dr. who specializes in BHRT....bio- identical hormone replacement therapy !
i am 50 and have been on BHRT for a year now....have my blood work done every 90 days..
its a balancing act but have NEVER felt better...!
take care !
C
Posted: 2008-12-16 17:30:09
Question/Comment:
i just startted on gabapentin my dr hs me gradually goiong up to 1800 mg pwe day what is the best time to take it and does any one have shortness of breath im not sure if this is a ide effect or not
50 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-06 11:25:08
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