Hi everyone, thought I'd pop in and see how people are going with Gabapentin. My neuro first gave me Lyrica which was dreadful and made me feel like a zombie. Now on Gabapentin and doing well (but its only the first week). Any info on how anyone else is coping with it gratefully received
I have no problems with Gabapentin. I take 600mg three times a day and they are helpful for pain control. I have no side effects! I have been taking it for about 10 months.
Thank you so much for your response. I have found that even after less than a week of Gabapebtin 300mg 3 times a day but with a comment from my neuro that I can double the dose to 600mg, weirdly enough it seems to have given me more energy. Side effects are virtually zero. After taking Lyrica 75 mg twice a day for 3 weeks it was terrible and so Gabapentin is fantastic after those side effects.
Well done! I am glad it is working for you!
I had surgery for spinal stenosis and a cyst in my spinal canal. I have been on 300MG (3X a day) since Oct. 2016. At first I was feeling a little dizzy on the Gabapentin but it went away after a couple of weeks. I do believe that it has caused some weight gain. I remained active, ate semi healthy but still put on the weight. I have tried to come off of it 3 times already because of the weight and just wanting to not be on meds all my life and every time I do, I get a reminder as to why it is too soon. It does wonders for my pain. Even on it, I have some numbness and soreness but it is very manageable. I do not want to increase the dosage.
I have been on it for years as previously posted. I follow the doctor's instructions and take it at the prescribed times. The only time I had a problem which kicked up pain and restless arm/legs was when I skipped the time I was suppose to take it and missed doses. For a year now, I have not missed a dose and my pain is under control and my legs don't decide to walk on their own! I agree with your opinion of Lyrica as it didn't work for me either and it cost a lot more than gabapentin. In the beginning I kept a diary of pain and activity which the doctor liked. Just a thought!
Yes, its a 50/50 thing with pain control and taking meds constantly. I am taking it for neuropathic pain for multiple sclerosis. Now, 2 weeks in, I am noticing weight gain! I really don't want to increase my weight at all and I follow a very healthy diet and exercise regularly. (Have even given up alcohol about 2 months ago due to weight gain from that ). I will have to weigh (no pun intended, lol) up whether the weight gain is worth it. I am finding Gabapentin is not dealing with all the pain and I certainly don't want to double the dose if its going to increase my weight further. I am still a little drowsy on it intermittently, but will just see how things go over the next couple of months.
Thanks Sandra. The diary is a great idea and many years ago I did keep such a diary. I think I will follow your suggestion and begin to do that again. My neuro is regularly reviewing me and I am due to see him in 2 weeks as he wanted to see how I was going with Gabapentin. Its the dreaded weight gain that will make me decide to go off it. The pain is not at huge levels for me but G seems to help me sleep better and I have lost that "wrapped in barbed wire" feeling and no more restless legs...just have to sort out the pro's and con's further down the track.
I did not have that problem with weight. I do remember being drowsy and in all honesty I can't tell if that is the drug or the anemia which is bad for me. I do protein shakes for lunch but I am not a breakfast person so that is usually a slice of cheese and coffee. Supper is balanced well. When I feel tired, I go walking. I swear the air wakes me up. It is only 2 was for you. I do remember it took me several months to really feel a change in pain. Hang in there and see if time helps or ask your doctor what the drug expectations are!
Thanks Sandra. Yes, its only early days for me, so will give it a good chance. And will have another chat with my neuro when I see him for review in a couple of weeks. 
Hopefully the weight thing might stabilise too..I don't need a slowing down of metabolism that's for sure and I also have to realise that as an "old" girl in my early 60's, this can occur with age. Grrrrr.
You sure said that right. I have been trying to loose 20 lbs for two years and I told you how I eat and walk a lot. I am pushing 70 and have noticed age makes it difficult. Just be patient and let your neuro make good decisions for you. I have so much going on but I am a positive person and try anything advised. So far for years the specialists have helped. Maybe do your diary with columns and include date, time, activity, pain, food etc. anything helps them get to a solution. I did all that and that is how my physician figured the timing of the med. my doses are split morning, afternoon and bedtime. That way I am not so drowsy but can sleep good at night. Not all the pain has disappeared as there are days when the barometric pressure changes with he oncoming of a storm an believe me I feel it, but it is no way like it was before I was given G. You just have to find the way it works best but that is how the diary helped. I still see the rheumatologist and pain doctors every 3 months and they consider me plateaued. I am also facing heart surgery so the cardiologist sees me monthly but he approves of the drug too. Try real hard to concentrate on the daily gains as I think that helps a lot. Keep in touch with progress.
All of these posts that are so negative on gabapentin are difficult to understand. I jave been taking 300 mg 3 times a day to mute the severe leg pain I experienced after fusion back surgery. It worked immediately and has been working perfectly ever since. No side effects and has made it possible for ne to get off Oxycodone, a far more addictive drug. I see no reason to buy into all of the negative talk. It may well be that people arecexperiwncing issues with it but the FDA Isn't buying it. And many people blame a drug without taking into account other issues they may have, including psychosomatic symptoms. I know others who take the medicine to restore their gabba receptors in their brains because those can be switched off with taking excessive amounts of diazepams over a long period as I have. That is a major benefit of the use of gabapentin along with its use as a neuropathic pain block agent. I may be the only person benefitting from it considering all the posts here but I rathercseriously doubt it. The FACT IS, one can be prescribed as much as 3600 mg of gabapentin. So anyone taking for less should carefully consider whether there are other issues at play. If it works, take it. You'll know soon enough. And until the FDA posts a dire earning about it, ditch the negatitvity. It simply makes no sense on the vast majority of cases. Millions of people take it. Apparently we need more people to get on line to let people know the positive effects of that med.
I thought a lot of the comments were about coming off it. I agree that it is very effective in treating neuropathic pain. I am on 1800mg and they work well for me.
I am using it to deal with the effects of my lower back surgery. It's only been six weeks so it isn't fair to say all should be well. But when my surgeon suggested gabapentin I just took his advice. He said he had seen lingering leg pain from going into the S1 area but in his opinion gabapentin after a 5 day steroid treatment has been very effective with the majority of patients with which he has worked. So I'm operating on his success rate which, given his reputation, is phenomenal. I don't see me being on it long at 900 mg a day and I haven't had an oxycodone pill on a few days now. No withdrawal from that so far. I still have the bottle and will take one if I feel the need but so far, so good.
I wholeheartedly agree with you and have tried in the past to state this. If you read the self medicating, over prescribing, obtaining the drug without a physician, self adjusting, mixing with alcohol etc, it is a wonder we don't here about episodes similar to opioids. Me...I have been on it for years no problems at all but I do follow the advice of my physician and I am a nurse. Great news today, I gardened for four hours,cooked supper, babysat and feel wonderful. Tired but no pain! Says a lot.
I'm very comfortable with my surgeon's advice. I also maintain a pain doctor for additional advice. Between the two of them I usually arrive at a solution. One thing I will say is that I will never use a Butrans patch again. 24/7 opioid induction was a disaster for me.
I have been on Gabapentin for 3 years now,increasing dosage fro900 mg per day to 5600 mg per day. This is all due to exposure to Agent Orange. No problems but I am pretty tired by the end of the day.
One of the unfortunate side effects of gabapentin is drowsiness. I've never heard of a patient at that high a dosage. They usually top people outvatcaround 3200 to 3600 mg and call it a day. Then you get steroid packs or something else to help. Sorry about the Agent Orqnge situation. But like I said at THAT high a dosage I'm surprised you're not sleeping all day.
I guess my body has adjusted to it. My concern is what happens next year? This may not be my worse problem as I now need to go to Hematogist to look at my blood. Already thyroid cancer survivor. All due to exposure to AO. Served my country (drafted) and this is what I received
Life is not fair. Bit it's life and I guess we all just have to keep plodding along. My back surgery has been iffy in terms of what I got out of it so far. If it doesn't work they can saw the right leg off because I'm not going to tolerate that kind of pain if it comes back. Bottom line.