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The Food and Drug Administration first approved Neurontin (gabapentin) in 1993 to treat epilepsy. Anticonvulsants are not normally blockbuster drugs. Perhaps that is why the original manufacturer, Parke-Davis, promoted the drug off-label to treat pain. You will read about the mischief that caused shortly. The marketing campaign was incredibly successful, though. Gabapentin has become one of the most frequently prescribed pain pills in America. Over 10.5 million patients take it daily. Prescriptions are up, in large part because doctors have cut back on opioid prescribing. Do doctors adequately warn patients about gabapentin side effects and withdrawal reactions? There is a new and unexpected complication: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
COPD: An Unexpected and Worrisome Complication!
Most people are swallowing gabapentin for conditions that the FDA has never approved and for which there may be modest scientific support. We would not get overly concerned with this off-label prescribing if this drug were perfectly safe. But gabapentin side effects are not trivial, as you will read. And a brand new gabapentin side effect has just emerged.
Canadian researchers have just dropped a bombshell on gabapentin (Annals of Internal Medicine, Jan. 15, 2024). They compared patients taking gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) with “nonusers.” This was a big database!
- There were 356 gabapentinoid users with epilepsy
- There were 9,411 gabapentinoid users with nerve pain
- There were 3,737 gabapentinoid users with chronic pain
These patients were matched 1:1 to similar people not taking gabapentinoids.
The authors point out that published studies:
“…have shown severe breathing difficulties in some patients using gabapentinoids.
“This safety issue may be of particular concern in patients with respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).”
Here is what they found:
“In this population-based cohort study of patients with COPD, gabapentinoid use was associated with increased risk for severe exacerbation in patients with epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain. The increased risk was observed regardless of age, sex, and various markers of COPD severity. Gabapentinoid use may also be associated with increased risks for moderate or severe exacerbation and respiratory failure.”
The FDA does list “serious breathing problems” in the official prescribing information for gabapentin:
“Serious breathing problems can occur when NEURONTIN is taken with other medicines that can cause severe sleepiness or decreased awareness, or when it is taken by someone who already has breathing problems. Watch for increased sleepiness or decreased breathing when starting NEURONTIN or when the dose is increased. Get help right away if breathing problems occur.”
We worry, though, that many health professionals may not warn patients who have COPD or other “breathing problems” that gabapentinoids could be dangerous.
Off-Label Prescribing of Gabapentin:
Approved and Unapproved Uses of Gabapentin:
There are only two FDA-sanctioned uses for gabapentin:
- “Management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults
- Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy”
“Postherpetic neuralgia” is the lingering nerve pain after a shingles attack.
That’s it! The FDA has not approved this drug for any other “indication.”
Despite the lack of FDA approval, doctors prescribe gabapentin for (Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, Sept. 23, 2018):
- Attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Fibromyalgia
- Mental illness
- Migraines
- Substance dependence
- Neuropathic pain
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Bipolar disorder (BPD)
- Diabetic nerve pain
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Postoperative pain
- Etc.
Gabapentin for Postoperative Pain:
Because there has been such concern about opioid abuse, many surgeons are now fearful about prescribing drugs such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet) or hydrocodone (Vicodin). The theory is that gabapentin will provide enough postoperative pain relief that doctors can prescribe a lower dose of opioid for a shorter period of time. That is supposed to reduce the risk of opioid dependence.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Nov. 1, 2022) reports that:
“…reductions in pain intensity 24 hours after surgery and opioid-related adverse events associated with gabapentin and placebo were inconsistent and not clinically meaningful.”
The authors reported about gabapentin side effects:
“…perioperative gabapentin use was associated with modestly increased risk of delirium, new antipsychotic use, and pneumonia but not with in-hospital death among adults aged 65 years or older after major surgery. Considering the increasing number of major surgeries performed in older adults and the negative consequences of perioperative delirium, our findings raise concern about an increasingly adopted clinical practice that involves routine use of gabapentin as part of multimodal analgesia.”
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (May 12, 2010) concluded that using gabapentin for the treatment of acute postoperative pain:
“…is of limited clinical value and inferior to commonly used analgesics.”
Gabapentin After Knee Surgery:
A reader of our syndicated newspaper column asked about gabapentin side effects:
Q. When I had knee replacement surgery, I was prescribed gabapentin to help control pain. It caused brain fog, imbalance, sleepiness and depression. Why wasn’t I warned about these complications?
A. Doctors are increasingly prescribing gabapentin to reduce opioid use following surgery. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Nov. 1, 2022) indicates that older people may not tolerate this drug well. They often report side effects similar to those you experienced. Doctors should warn patients about such adverse reactions.
Gabapentin for Knee Osteoarthritis:
Some doctors are prescribing gabapentin for knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. A study published in the Journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (Feb. 2023) concludes:
“Incorporating gabapentin into care for patients with knee OA [osteoarthritis] does not appear to offer good value.”
Gabapentin for Back Pain:
Q. My doctor prescribed gabapentin for severe back pain. It affected my vision and caused muddled thinking and loss of concentration and coordination. After I’d been on it for two months, my husband said, “What is going on? You’ve never been this way before.” After 30 years together, he knows me pretty well.
When I talked to the doctor about gabapentin side effects, he said he knew about them but didn’t want to scare me off taking it!
I stopped taking gabapentin and got my brain back. Then I started a regimen of targeted stretching and diet changes, along with some chiropractic care. My back has never felt better. To me it seems unethical for a doctor NOT to tell a patient about potential gabapentin side effects.
A. Many other readers have complained of brain fog or fuzzy thinking when taking gabapentin. No one should ever stop this drug abruptly, however. The FDA requires this in the official prescribing information:
“Adverse reactions following the abrupt discontinuation of gabapentin have also been reported. The most frequently reported reactions were anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, and sweating.”
If it is necessary to stop this drug, it should be done gradually under medical supervision.
How Well Does Gabapentin Work for Back Pain?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of this drug for pain and disability associated with sciatica was published in Atencion Primaria (Jan. 2022). The authors conclude:
“Our results are consistent with previous systematic reviews assessing the effectiveness of anticonvulsants on low and back pain relief. Their findings reflect that these drugs were related to a higher risk for AE [adverse effects] and were ineffective both for the treatment of pain associated with acute sciatica and functional disability.”
“In this review, no evidence has been found to support the use of pregabalin [Lyrica] or gabapentin for sciatica pain or low back pain, since the effect is not superior to placebo. In addition, adverse effects of different considerations associated with their use have been reported. In view of this, its routine clinical use cannot be supported.”
Gabapentin for “Pins and Needles”:
Female foot above colored pushpin, metal sharp pin
Q. About fifteen years ago, I was experiencing significant pins and needles sensations in my hands and feet and was diagnosed with MS. I was prescribed gabapentin for the discomfort. I kept taking the gabapentin and over the years I became progressively weaker and more fatigued. Then I began seeing specialists for bladder issues, among other things. I fully expected to end up in a nursing home within ten years.
Then I weaned myself from the gabapentin and noticed I was regaining strength and energy. I have now returned to living a totally normal, active life with my only symptoms being pins and needles. Careful use of supplements has helped reduce this too.
It scares me to think I might never have discovered the true cause of my disability. How many people are also living with a disease induced by medication?
A. Thank you for your insightful story. Gabapentin (Neurontin) has FDA approval to treat epilepsy and nerve pain after a shingles attack (postherpetic neuralgia). Doctors do prescribe it off-label for many other conditions, though. Side effects include weakness, fatigue, sleepiness, dizziness and depression. By the way, the official prescribing information lists “asthenia” as one of the important gabapentin side effects. Asthenia means “abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy” (RxList).
Gabapentin for Insomnia:
Alarm clock in the middle of the night isolated on black concept for insomnia or sleepless night
Q. I would like to know your feelings on the regular use of gabapentin for chronic insomnia. My doctor has prescribed a myriad of drugs to treat my long-term insomnia. Most recently, he prescribed upwards of 3600 mg of gabapentin to be taken at bedtime.
After more than 6 months of use I have noticed that gabapentin is taking a toll on my quality of life. Your thoughts please!
A. Gabapentin was approved by the FDA as an “add-on” treatment for patients with epilepsy in 1993. Although researchers do not completely understand how gabapentin works to control seizures, they think it affects production of a neurochemical in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). It has never been approved for treating insomnia!
The Off-Label Marketing Boondoggle:
Parke-Davis was acquired by Warner-Lambert in 1974. Pfizer acquired the whole company in 2000.
The manufacturer of brand name Neurontin, got into major trouble when it marketed the drug for off-label uses. Pharmaceutical manufacturers were not allowed to promote their medicines for indications that the FDA had not approved. In Pfizer’s case, these unofficial uses for Neurontin included bipolar disorder, alcohol withdrawal, migraines and pain. The company eventually paid $430 million in penalties and admitted to fraudulent promotion.
We mention this because Neurontin is currently available generically as gabapentin. In addition to treating epilepsy, the drug now has official FDA approval only for alleviating nerve pain caused by shingles (postherpetic neuralgia).
Off-Label Prescribing Continues:
Even though gabapentin does not have the FDA’s blessing for treating other kinds of nerve pain (neuropathy), many doctors are using it for this purpose. Some physicians prescribe it to patients with fibromyalgia and migraines as well as to control hot flashes brought on by menopause, even though there is no official blessing from the FDA. It is estimated that 95% of the prescriptions filled for gabapentin are for unapproved off-label uses.
This is not illegal. Doctors can prescribe any drug for any reason they see fit. That said, we could find little evidence to suggest that gabapentin would be helpful for insomnia. This is definitely an “off-label” use if ever there was one. No organization is responsible for monitoring irresponsible off-label prescribing…not the FDA, the AMA, or any medical specialty group. Patients are on their own to find out if their doctors are prescribing a drug responsibly.
A review in the journal Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment (Sept. 23, 2018) puts off-label prescribing of gabapentin into perspective:
“Gabapentin has several potential therapeutic uses and may represent a safer option versus alternative agents in some of these indications, so the intent of this analysis is not to condemn its use. However, it is prudent to recognize that gabapentin has seen high rates of off-label use and increased prescribing in recent years, which fails to align with current evidence regarding efficacy. Indeed, most of the evidence for off-label use is limited to a few small, low-quality studies, often with data only weakly supporting use. Higher quality evidence, which indicates gabapentin nonefficacy, is often lost in the shuffle. Given the increasing reports of abuse and evidence of potential harms associated with gabapentin use, it is important to realize the potential risks associated with this medication and weigh these risks against this lack of reliable evidence purporting its efficacy for many of its off-label uses.”
Gabapentin Side Effects:
If there were few, if any, side effects associated with gabapentin we would not worry too much about the prescribing of this drug for so many off-label uses. But gabapentin has some potentially worrisome adverse effects.
The FDA has issued this warning:
“Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including Neurontin [gabapentin], increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.”
The FDA also mentions an “unexpectedly high incidence of pancreatic acinar adenocarcinomas” [cancer] in male rats that received gabapentin. The agency adds the unhelpful caveat that the:
“clinical significance of this finding is unknown.”
In other words, no one knows whether this animal research means that men will be at higher risk for pancreatic cancer. This is not the sort of thing that the FDA requires drug companies to follow up on because the long-term research needed to detect a cancer signal can be quite challenging and expensive.
Gabapentin Side Effects:
- Dizziness, vertigo
- Fatigue and or tiredness
- Unsteadiness or incoordination
- Abnormal thinking, anxiety, hostility, confusion, amnesia,
- Depression, suicidal thoughts, mood changes
- Fluid accumulation in feet, edema of face or extremities
- Digestive distress, indigestion, loss of appetite, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Dry mouth, dental problems, gingivitis
- Blurred vision, double vision, unusual eye movements (nystagmus)
- Headache
- Withdrawal seizures (never stop gabapentin suddenly!)
- Blood disorders
- Skin rash (alert your M.D. immediately if this occurs!)
- Upper respiratory tract infections, fever
- High blood pressure
- Palpitations
- Tremor, jerky movements
- Joint pain, joint stiffness, arthritis
Gabapentin Discontinuation Syndrome (aka Withdrawal):
No one should ever discontinue gabapentin abruptly. Like so many medications that affect the central nervous system, sudden withdrawal may lead to unexpected side effects. Some that have been reported include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating and even seizures. Sadly, though, the FDA gives very little guidance to prescribers about how to gradually taper patients off gabapentin.
Stories from Readers:
When you read a long list of gabapentin side effects like those listed above, your eyes glaze over almost instantly. Drug companies have recognized this, which is why there is so much prescription drug advertising on TV and in magazines. There was a time when the pharmaceutical industry worried about telling patients about such serious side effects as irregular heart rhythms, hypertension, cancer or blood disorders. Not any more. They realize that even warnings about heart attacks, strokes or death do not scare people away.
The only way we can help you understand what such side effects are like in real life is to share stories from visitors to this website. Here are just a handful. You can read hundreds more in the comment section at the bottom of this article.
Sue in Corvallis, Oregon, writes about her husband:
“My husband has been on gabapentin for anxiety and depression for over 3 years now. The doctors started him on this to get him off the benzodiazepines he had been on for 20 years.
“While it seemed to help in the beginning, they kept increasing the dose. He is currently on 2700 mg per day (900 mg x 3). That is way too much.
He has changed so much – cries hysterically, has mood swings, goes from insomnia to sleep deprivation. He has tremors, blurred vision and now talks about suicide all the time. He is so discouraged.
“If the FDA has not okayed gabapentin for anxiety and depression, why do docs prescribe it? I am ready to complain to the drug company! He and I just want his life back. Lying in bed 85% of the time is not helpful.”
Susan in Milton, Florida, shares a tragic story:
“My boyfriend was prescribed gabapentin for his diabetic neuropathy. I can see now that he became more withdrawn and one evening left the house without my knowledge and went to the hospital where they prescribed sertraline (Zoloft) and counseling the following Monday.
“He committed suicide Saturday morning. If I had been told by his doctor about the side effects of gabapentin I could have done something to prevent his death.”
Lynn in Mobile, Alabama, warns about weight gain from gabapentin (she isn’t the only one):
“I have been on gabapentin (800 mg 3 x daily) for about 13 years. It was prescribed for spinal problems and pain problems in general. When I first started gabapentin, it worked great. But I experienced a tremendous amount of weight gain, like close to 100 pounds!
“As time has gone on I have noticed my life has changed so much. I have developed random weird thoughts. I never want to go anywhere or do anything except sit in my recliner and watch tv.
“I feel a nervous wreck if it’s been awhile since I have taken my gabapentin. I have an overwhelming feeling sometimes, like a flash in my mind of suicidal thoughts. My mind feels scrambled. It is very hard to explain.
“My pain is so unbearable sometimes that I am afraid to get off gabapentin. I am 44 years old and weighing around 250 pounds! I look horrible and don’t want anyone to see me period.”
Jonanne in England has had trouble getting off gabapentin:
“I had been on gabapentin for about two years for nerve damage from gallbladder surgery. I was on 300 mg 3 times a day. These tabs were a wonder drug and took my pain away almost immediately.
“Now two years later I returned to the doctor and told her I would like to come off this medication as I feel it’s time. For the last few weeks she weaned me off them with a withdrawal chart, which I followed till the last tablet. Just two days after being completely off gabapentin the side effects have hit me: dizziness, headaches, nausea, and I actually fainted, which I have never done before in my life.
“The doctor told me I had come off gabapentin too quickly and to start taking a lower dosage. I started weaning myself off gabapentin gradually again, but still the same symptoms. I have not taken any pills for 5 days and the dizziness and headaches are back. I am not sleeping. I am also having hot sweats in the night and feeling very low in mood. I am not going back on gabapentin! I am going to persevere even with these symptoms and hope I can cope. I feel like I am going around the bend and will never get better.”
The People’s Pharmacy Bottom Line:
Gabapentin is an effective treatment for epilepsy and the excruciating pain that sometimes lingers after an attack of shingles. Although it is quite frequently prescribed for off-label uses, the benefit/risk ratio is not clear. The drug has many potentially serious side effects. And researchers are discovering new ones as demonstrated by the Canadian researchers who announced that gabapentin can trigger serious worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By the way, the most extreme exacerbations of COPD happened about six months after patients started regular gabapentinoid use.
The “normal” dose of gabapentin for treating epilepsy or shingles pain would be up to 1800 mg daily. Reading that a doctor prescribes 3600 mg for an unapproved use like insomnia scares the heck out of us.
No one should ever stop gabapentin suddenly. If gabapentin side effects become problematic, a VERY gradual withdrawal process under medical supervision is necessary.
Is Marijuana an Alternative to Gabapentin?
People with nerve pain may find our one-hour interview with David Casserett, MD, quite fascinating. In it he talks about medical marijuana for “neuropathic” pain. It is titled, “How One Doctor Changed His Mind About Medical Marijuana.”
If you are worried about the psychoactive properties of marijuana, you may find this article about cannabidiol (CBD) oil of substantial interest. It may ease nerve pain without causing people to get “high.”
Barry
One question comes to mind: Where do doctors get the ideas to prescribe a drug for off-label use? It seems strange that doctors independently come up with ideas for off-label use.
Perhaps this could be a topic for the weekly podcast.
Arie
glad I did not take it for fibro. thank you for the detailed info. these newsletters are so helpful and inspiring!
Louisa
Post-op gabapentin = suicidal thoughts with ideation. Great pain relief, but too dangerous.
Carey
1) I don’t think I have COPD, but I do have difficulty breathing if I smell fragrance, cigarette smoke, cleaners or it seems like anything that smells. This has gotten worse over the years. I can barely leave my house. Could the gabapentin have caused it?
2) One side effect I never see listed is increased sensitivity to cold. Over the years I became more and more sensitive to the point where I was wearing 3 sweaters with a shawl and a big scarf covering half my back.
I confirmed that it was the gabapentin when a friend who was always hot went on Gralise (sp?) and suddenly became cold all the time.
Tiffany
My 86-yo mother was put on Gabapentin (don’t have the dose) twice a day after a hip fracture. She has been on it for about 5 weeks and is experiencing extreme confusion and delusional thinking. She has been off it for four days now. I am terrified that his confusion will continue. Any anecdotal experience with this? Should we expect her confusion will improve? Previously, she had only very mild sporadic confusion.
Natalie
Glutathione is natural and worked the best for my nerve pain. Yep, it’s gone. Now I just mix one glass of room temperature water with a pinch of salt & sugar and squeeze in juice from a quarter of a lemon. Stir until granulates are blended, and drink another in 20 mins.
Peggy
There are so many things that are natural that a person can take for a lot of the symptoms instead of prescribed medication. I am 82 years old, I do not take anything and my numbers are great for my blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, arthritis and bursitis not to mention leg cramps and a few other things. You have all of the articles that you need to take care of these challenges. Gabapentin is one of the worst things that a person can take. Hydrochlorothiazide made me become a diabetic and that is supposed to be nothing more than a so-called water pill type to lower your blood pressure. By the way I didn’t have high blood pressure to begin with I had just delivered a load of kids to school and gone down to take a physical. I wasn’t too smart 20 years ago.
William
This is a cruel and uninformed article citing anecdotal suicides and rat pancreatic cancer (remember when coffee did that?). Gabapentin is a great treatment for neurological maladies such as neuropathy, and your alarmist article appears to be pandering to unfounded human fears and not science.
Kathy
I was prescribed gabapentin for restless leg syndrome by a sleep specialist. I took it for about 5 nights. It made me twitch violently and painfully. Definitely not for me.
Suzan
I find it amazing to read this knowing that my FOUR YEAR OLD was prescribed “Gab” (as they called it for the kids) during his chemotherapy to counter-act nerve pain associated with the drugs. As a parent you are so overwhelmed with a cancer diagnosis in your child that you blindly follow everything they say. Once my own “brain fog” wore off, I started researching and questioning things I was giving my child. Gab was one of the first to go. I felt he didn’t need it, and he was all over the place in his demeanor. He took warm baths and I did foot massages whenever he was in pain, and I feel the touch did more for him than the drug. He STILL has brain fog and delay in skills 5 years later from all the chemo.
Barbara adams
I have taken gabapentin for ten nights, only 100 mg per day. Am horrified about what I have just been reading about the drug Will I have to taper for weeks before I can come off? I don’t want to become addicted to it.
Eileen
My neuro-opthamalagist wanted to start me me on 300 mg of gabapentin 3 x daily for nystagmus.
I already had double vision, the feeling everything was spinning around me, and loss of balance. He said dosage could be increased if necessary. He then did blood work and supposedly reviewed all my meds including OTC and vitamins. Guess he ignored that I was taking some of them because they didn’t list list them from what I turned in. After researching the awful side effects from patients on People’s Pharmacy and other sites I refused the gabapentin. He told me the only side effect I MIGHT have was some sleepiness and nothing else. The only other alternative was Klonepin which I also refused. So I’m now just seeing my optometrist who is fitting me with prism glasses. I think so highly of him and am glad I refused both of the suggested drugs.
Terry
It seems to me that our problem is that we don’t really have good, safe ways to alleviate pain, especially nerve pain. Therefore, doctors and patients are left with trying various methods to relieve it which sometimes work, sometimes don’t, and sometimes make things worse. Chronic pain is miserable and does lead to depression and suicide. I continue to take a drug that seniors are advised not to take because it might cause dementia. But it’s the only drug that relieves my diagnosed nerve pain, so I take it. It’s a terrible bargain that many of us have to take.
Katherine
Gabapentin was prescribed to me for anxiety and insomnia. It has helped tremendously with both. I get slightly dizzy and was sleepy at first. That’s it, no other side effects. I am grateful for this medicine.
Jeri
My husband was given gabapentin after knee replacement. It caused panic attacks and sleeplessness. It took 2 weeks to ween him off of it. It was also given to my father at 90 years old to help with his restlessness. It made the situation much worse.
Nee
I am 27. I was on 300 mg nightly for a little over 3 weeks before I connected my increasing breast swelling and pain to the Gabapentin. Nothing else about my routine/meds/eating changed except for the Gabapentin. My bust jumped three inches but my band stayed the same!!! This may be a blessing for some women but it’s just been hell for me. I couldn’t wear the sports bra I’d been wearing for ages. I even sized up and got a new one but it still caused so much pain. I’m forced to wear another “bra” that has zero support because it’s the only one that does not hurt.
I’ve been off the drug for a week and my breasts are still swollen. I know it’s not due to weight gain as my other measurements remained steady and so have my eating habits. It’s incredibly depressing. The kicker? I was put on this drug because no other meds helped my depression and anxiety. No clue where to go from here or if/when the swelling will go away. The constant pain is wearing me down.
William
Gabapentin completely messed up my life.
Deb
My doctor prescribed Gabapentin for my severe leg cramps. Fortunately, I needed it for less than a month and then started hearing lots of negatives from long-term use. That medical problem resolved on its own, and I am relieved that I did not need to use it any longer. Besides, who really wants more problems? The adverse effects of Gabapentin are scary but considering its approved use was to control seizures, I will not use it again.
Betty
Gabapentin caused me terrible reflux after a short time, maybe a few weeks. Withdrawal was even worse. I did not sleep for 4 days and could not stop moving. It was as if every nerve in my body was on high alert. Never Again.
Patricia
I’ve been on this drug for two months now- 300mg three times a day. It has helped my headaches, and the first three weeks I felt great. But now I’m lethargic and irritable at the same time. All I want is to be left alone and sit in a chair and read. Also, am feeling pretty hopeless with occasional suicidal thoughts. Glad to know I’m not alone. Going to have to get off this tho I do dread the pain coming back too. Thanks for all the info.
Steve
I have been on Gabapentin (300mg 3x/day) for about 8 years. My doctor prescribed it after I had multiple surgeries on my back accompanied by pain and nerve discomfort in my legs/feet. I take quite a bit of other prescription medicine including tramadol for back pain. I’m always tired and find that I have a hard time concentrating.
In the past I’ve run out of Gabapentin, and it was a few days until I got the prescription refilled. Big mistake because I would get terrible sharp pains in my legs and feet. In the past couple of weeks I’ve had a couple episodes of uncontrolled “spasms” in my arms and legs. I’m thinking my body might be saying enough is enough. My doctor said that might happen at some point. Overall, I know Gabapentin has helped with my back pain and lower extremity nerve issues but the side effects are pretty wicked. I’m sure the other meds I take along with Gabapentin have had a cumulative affect on my my body but it definitely has the worst side effects.
My doctor has talked to me about medical marijuana, and I think I’m going to consider that as an alternative to Gabapentin. In general, I think it would be beneficial to get off of as many prescription drugs that I can. Best of luck to you!
Brian
I became entangled in a drug environment from an ex and her brother.
After sometime I decided I wanted to take my life, but in the tub realized I’m better than them and did not harm myself. It was too late, and I came out of the bathroom to 12 police who took me to the psych ward of the local yet very wealthy and known hospital. After explaining that it was merely a drug and alchohol-induced manic, they still gave me the 3 drugs they give every single person through those doors, one of which was Gabapentin.
After discharge I felt great, but soon realized something was off. I no longer had control of my secrets or what I would say to loved ones, and started spilling everything on my mind. Then I got scared. Told my parents, and we tried calling the hospital to get help…telling them I am fearful of myself and the thoughts I’m having, and I need help. They said to keep taking my medicine. The soonest I could talk to someone about every drug I was prescribed was 60 days from that call.
None of us after several attempts could even reach the doctor who would walk through the ward giving everyone the same thing. So I did keep taking it, and things got worse and worse . . .to the point where I was sitting talking to a friend on Facebook while cutting open up my arm. I did not think this was wrong at the time. Gabapentin completely faded my brain and decision-making. Luckily, my friend was able to intervene and take me to the hospital. I then lied to them about saying I got cut working on a mirror. Then I stopped taking Gabapentin myself. And only after about 2 weeks realized what I did was horrific and not acceptable.
I never would have harmed myself without this medication, and without the lack of care that I was given from that hospital. Even more, if it wasn’t for my friends I might not even be here! This drug is dangerous. Anyone who has had in a couple-day stay at a psych ward who has been prescribed this as a “mood stabilizer,” especially those that had suicidal thoughts or substance abuse,,should not be taking it at all. If you are, be careful!!!!!! Much love.
Stanley Jarrett
Gabapentin is a demon. It’s got me, and I feel there’s no getting away. IT is the only thing that helps my neuropathy so I can sleep but it has taken control of my brain also. I was shy and a wallflower all my life. Gabapentin has made me outgoing and affable. This is not me. I have started sinning my ass off since starting gabapentin. The things I say and do are not me. I know my actions are wrong but for some reason I can’t help myself.
Andrew
Neurotin (Gabapetin) was given to me by my Dr for chronic back pain. After taking it had hallucination that looked like those silly wall walker toy but these were giant and the would jump from wall to wall and walk down the walls my wife had to help me get past it until it stopped so I stoped taking it .
Betty
Gabapentin was prescribed for sever hip and back pain. After a few months I felt like I had lost my whole personality and was having diarrhea. My Dr. gave me the protocol for withdrawing slowly over a month. When I finally stopped I did not sleep for 4 days and thought I was going insane. I did not take it again for years until the back pain again became unbearable. The hip was better after a hip replacement. Having trouble sleeping I took a gabapentin one night and slept like a baby. I did t his for about a month at which time I became extremely angry about EVERYTHING, even scaring myself with my outbursts. Once again I weaned slowly off this drug and lost only one night of sleep with the insanity. I still have some and if the pain is unbearable I’ll take one maybe once a week. I will see my Dr. this week and ask for something else for pain. This drug could cause someone to go totally nuts.
Catherine
I was given gabapentin while hospital following surgery for oral cancer. On the sixth day post surgery several drains were removed along with a pressure bandage over an area of my leg where a graft was harvested. As the doctor removed these I began to feel very light-headed. Suddenly I needed to go to the bathroom and had awful diarrhea. Once home, I had several episodes of dizziness followed by diarrhea. On the fourth day home from the hospital I began to feel extremely light-headed and called to my husband who happened to catch me as I was passing out, cracking my head on the kitchen counter as I went down. I called my primary care physician who checked me thoroughly and immediately took me off gabapentin. I haven’t had any issues since and will never take that drug again.
Pat
Back in the early 2000’s I was prescribed Neurontin to relieve symptoms caused by a genetic form of Essential Tremor. I took 1 dose and couldn’t stop eating. Anything I saw went right in my mouth; dead or alive, animate or inanimate. I just could not stop eating. I never took a second dose. A relarive has been on it for about that long. She has a small frame and had been a normal size all her life. Today she is more than a hundred pounds overweight. She still needs to supplement it with Botox injections. Its bad news!
Henry
I suffered from what my doctor diagnosed as clinical depression for years. I was on Paxil for many years, and it helped, but made me very zombie-like. Weaning off of the Paxil was hell. I did it over a nearly one-year period. I then took a different, newer antidepressant, which was milder and made me feel more alive. It helped but not entirely.
Then last year three things happened:
1) Through extensive research, I diagnosed myself with a condition called Adjustment Disorder and began Cognitive Behavioral therapy–basically talking with a psychologist.
2) At the same time I developed severe Sciatica and was put on Gabapentin.
3) Also, and maybe most significant, I have become more spiritual–that is, trying to get closer to God as I see him/her.
At this time I am feeling quite well. I don’t know if it’s the Gabapentin or the CBT or the spirituality that I’ve added to my life. But even in the face of a possible prostate cancer diagnosis, I am very much at peace with anything life sends my way. So, since my back is somewhat better, I am going to begin weaning off of the Gabapentin even though I believe it helped with the Sciatica without any significant bad side effects.
Linda
I was prescribed Gabapentin for a disk injury , followed by sciatic nerve pain. It did help me get sleep, but I had to take it hours before bed or I woke “fuzzy” in the morning. It also had the effect of making my skin itch. I would scratch like crazy till I had scabs on my back. I’m off it now . It did help when I needed it to get around, but should be used cautiously.
Louise
I am 76 years old and occasionally take the supplement GABA for anxiety. Does this chemical, which I have read naturally occurs in the body, but wanes with age, cause the same issues as Gabapentin does?
Clint
Well I’ve been on them for about 15 years. Run out when the doctor gives it to me. Then I buy them on the street. I’m hooked on them I didn’t know they done all this. Now I know why my vision’s gone, and I sweat profusely.
Amy
I was taking Gabapentin 700 mg per day for nerve pain and seizure disorder. Gabapentin has caused me vision problems, dizziness and fainting, nausea, swollen legs, arms and feet weight gain, anxiety, and sleep disturbance (sleeping very heavily but for only short periods.) Definitely not worth the side effects, which have left me almost house-bound.
I’ve been going off it gradually, 50 mg at a time (you can open the capsules and just take what you need.) Every time I decrease the dose my nerve pain surges, but plateaus again in a few weeks.
I want this out of my system but my neurologist won’t prescribe anything else for seizures, so I’m taking it really slowly.
Csaaphill
I think I’ve commented on here before but I will again.
I quit cold turkey in Jan of this year and within a week went to the ER twice in two days. Meaning, I went the night before and then again the next night for agitation etc… I still hear voices and some sort of maniacal singing. It makes me sick. I guess that’s called MES but this crap gets weird and makes me think demons are there.
I keep telling myself that it’s the gabapentin and the brain damage it gave me to keep that from doing the demon crap. Anymore just to keep calm all I’ve been doing the last two days is research this awful drug in hopes my brain will get the message and shut UP!
It began in late OCT or early Nov of last year, and it began with a group and saying I was part of their family that was hunting me down and all kinds of other scary things. But still musical in design which is what Musical ear syndrome is.
In the last few days, after a night of what sounded like a demon attack and telling me I’m in trouble, etc…, I began to think to it or myself whichever is true or both… That none of that was ever True. I’m not targeted by a group or no signal is being sent to me.
I have an EMF meter since I originally thought that’s people or the Govt were sending me microwaves to create artificial telepathy, but the meter only shows signals inside our house not outside. I mean it goes to the normal outside, but high levels inside. So, by elimination, this tells me it’s not a signal aimed directly at me since if it was it would be consistently high outside as well not go to normal. I know wifi hot spots exist but the kicker is that we don’t use wifi. I have a wifi router but we use the ethernet connection not the wifi, and it’s turned off. I hate wireless. I don’t even have a cell phone and no plans on ever getting one. I hate those things and how zombie-like people get with those things. So don’t bother with telling me that they are just a tool NO! I don’t care I don’t want one and will never get one!
Anyway, that’s been the hell I’ve been living in the last 9 months, and wish I’d have never taken this evil drug.
Once my brain began to feel effervescent in the last year before this crap hit, I should have stopped taking it but didn’t. The thing is it never really helped my Neuropathy either, it just helped me sleep. And then if I did sleep it made me almost sleep so deeply I swear I could have gone into a coma several times.
The dreams I had and even still have now, even though I’ve quit taking it cold turkey almost 6 months ago, were so weird and vivid I’m lucky I woke up from them at all. I still fear this will take me in my sleep sometime.
Not sure, but I have to be what I’ve seen as the worst-case here for my experiences have been really way out there that I’ve not seen unless people just don’t report theirs fully or something. I mean the reason for suicide could have been something like this happening to the people and/or all the zombie-like and brain fog people have reported.
So am not sure but this has been murder on me these last several months. No! I am not mentally ill. That’s a misconception of the medical field that everyone has to be mentally ill in order for this kind of crap to happen to them. I had a similar thing happen 20 years ago, while taking diet pills laced with ephedra, and that almost killed me then too.
but eventually went away.
Anyways I am in the process of getting an EEG for now I may have MS, Dementia and or Alzheimers, or something. Bad evil drug and should be removed!
Cam
The company (Pfizer) eventually paid $430 million in penalties and admitted to fraudulent promotion. Actually anyone who takes a drug made by Pfizer paid for this penalty, as the drug companies always find ways to up their bottom line. The Drug companies still make unbelievable profits and their executives are paid extravagant salaries. The Pharmaceutical companies have been granted immunity by the federal government if anything goes wrong with their vaccines and harms patients who took the vaccines. interesting?
John
My wife has Alzheimer’s and she would go around all day in a nervous state saying things like “where is my Mother” and “my mother is sick”. The doc put her on Gabapentin and it has taken that anxiety edge away. I only give her 300MG in the morning and that’s all. I read these incredible high doses some people are taking. Maybe the problem is not the Gaba but instead the fact bis they are being overdosed.
PS, I did try medical canabis. At low dose it did nothing and at the recommended dose it completely knocked her out so I stopped. CBD oil also did nothing.
Deloris
I couldn’t help seeing the connection between this article and the one about opioids and suicide. Since I have chronic pain, several doctors have recommended gabapentin or pregabalin to me. I’ve always refused, knowing about off-label prescribing and how those drugs may aggravate some of the very conditions I already have. If suicidal thoughts are a side effect of gabapentin, I wonder how many opioid users who were advised to taper or refused prescriptions outright were given gabapentin instead, only fueling the intense desire to end it all.
Will
Some years ago my dog had major surgery and was prescribed Gabapentin. Looked online because I remembered some problems with it. My pup healed well without that poison. Conventional vets are just as bad as conventional MDs when it comes to treatments and drugs that are almost as costly.
Peter
My pain specialist put me on gabapentin (3400 mg) for pain in arms and upper back caused by cervical stenosis. It made me feel loopy and uncoordinated. Luckily I had no trouble getting off this Rx. He seemed surprised when I told him that I had read in your newsletter that there were so many problems with the med.
I am on the lowest dosage of duloxetine after having side effects from my original dose of 60mg. It has lots of side effects like sweating and ED which are annoying, but at least it is effective.
Paula
There seems to be a big difference between taking high doses of gabapentin throughout the day, and a low dose just at night to help insomnia. I’ve been taking just 200mg at night for several years, after telling my doc I wanted to get off of clonazepam because of the risks associated with dementia. Nearly every night it’s just enough to help me get at least 5-6 hours of decent sleep. Without it, I wake up every hour and in the morning feel like I never even went to bed. I never have experienced any side effects. None of the other non-drug approaches to insomnia work for me, so this is a life saver. I wouldn’t want to scare anyone else like me away from taking a small dose to make a significant improvement in quality of life.
Kristine
I have been on Gaba for more than 30 years for restless legs syndrome. It was/is a miracle drug for me, but of course, I never dreamed it would have all these side effects. I’ve had plenty of them. I’m angry!
John
Gabapentin is a valuable drug for many people. Compared to the new batch of mood stabilizers, I think Gabapentin is safer and has fewer side effects – especially weight gain/insulin resistance. I used it twice this year for shingles pain after Covid infections and take 400mg some nights when nerves in my arthritic neck are especially bad.
That said, about 50% of the patients in my Family Practice who tried it had side effects or found the drug ineffective – there was also a very weak generic formulation which complicated use of the drug 15 years ago.
Luke
Doctors prescribe gabapentin for ETOH withdrawal and mood stabilizer all the time. Since it is an anti-seizure medication I thought the reasoning was along the lines of Depakote which is also an anti-seizure medication. I suppose it’s off label like using Trazadone for insomnia.
One study shows gabapentin may benefit some anxiety disorders, with “like likely benefit” for bipolar; clearer efficacy for etoh withdrawal and opioid dependence
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4732322/
However, personal users commented a 8.2 out of 10 (116 ratings) positive effect for bipolar.
https://www.drugs.com/comments/gabapentin/for-bipolar-disorder.html#:~:text=Gabapentin%20has%20an%20average%20rating,11%25%20reported%20a%20negative%20effect.
Shorty
My husband was prescribed gabapentin also for insomnia by his neurologist. It seemed like a good fit for him because he was also experiencing post shingles pain. After taking it for a few months his red and white blood cells were shown to be exceptionally low, this was declared to be a result of 15 years on heart blood thinner medications. However, in looking at the graphs of the blood work there was a very distinct change after he started on the gabapentin (300mgX3) I wondered if it was related, especially after reading that it could cause blood problems. Then a year later he developed a severe case of A-fib and aggressive large B cell lymphoma and passed away within 4 months. The gabapentin didn’t really help him sleep and he also talked about suicide. Doctors need more education on the drugs they proscribe and not just from Pharmaceutical companies. I feel like we are second guessing everything they do, very disappointing.
Joanna
Doctors are practically under the gun not to prescribe opioids for pain. Opioids obviously can be problematic, but they can be life-saving if appropriately prescribed and monitored—however, in the current climate ever fewer physicians are willing to deal with the intense negative scrutiny that comes with such prescribing. So they turn to really awful drugs like gabapentin. Being deprived of the possibility to use opioids if needed is a major problem for all of us. Those who drew us the draconian rules for opioid prescribing will rue their decisions when they themselves have the opportunity to experience significant pain and are denied effective relief.
Doug
Yeah, this crap needs not to be used at all. Drs. love to prescribe anti-psychotics for anything, it seems. If I’d have known this was a depression drug I would have told her no! As I stated below, I’m still hearing MES or Musical ear syndrome. And my head feels heavy, with headaches and nausea all day long. I sleep as much as possible for that’s the only time I don’t hear this noise. I’m now going on a month without Gabapentin, and even though some of the agitation is gone I’m still very agitated. I hear or feel what sounds like constant drums that vibrate down my left side. That’s what makes me sick.
Doug
This needs to add auditory hallucinations from Gabapentin, as in setting off what I have come to know as Musical ear Syndrome. At first I thought I was being gang-stalked but the voices or music turned into music or musical in design. I went off this crap (Gabapentin) and probably shouldn’t have. But I’ve been off of it for about two weeks now. The ear music is still there since I abused the medication by taking way more at bed time than I should have for over a year or more. I had tinnitus really badly prior to taking it, but now it’s worse.
I have read on other sites that yes!!!! yes, it can create auditory hallucinations so it makes sense that since I already had bad Tinnitus to begin with I do believe Gabapentin caused this symptom. I’m still very lethargic. I went to the ER twice over this. Pretty much they just treated me as Schizophrenic, and I hate that. No, I do not believe that I am Schizophrenic. The voices or singing in my head doesn’t tell me to kill or anything but I don’t try to listen either.
As I said I already had very bad tinnitus and always carried a tune in my head to kind of block out the noise I already hear so…. my doctor never took me seriously about the Gabapentin. She just it wouldn’t do that but yes it does. I struggle with balance now since this drug. I’m sick. I have to take sea sick pills now to stop or slow down my feeling of being swayed back and forth a lot. So yes this drug needs to only be prescribed as intended and needs some more supervision.
Nana
First, I’d like to say a fond Hello to you and Terry. I have several signed books of yours after attending medical visits for Seniors to shopping malls in Durham. I even attended a radio show you had held at a car dealer on 15-501. It’s a blessing to know you and to keep up with The Peoples Pharmacy.
My gabapentin experience: After x-rays showed serious arthritis and sclerosis in my back, I went to a spine Dr. The first one said 3 things could help: Exercise, shots, or surgery. No surgery for me, I said (I’m 81). Started with p/t even though I am a daily exerciser. It did not help. He could not give shots and sent me to another Dr. This other Dr. prescribed 300 mg gabapentin once a day to build up to 3 times a day. I was a bit angry because of my age, my weight (97 lbs), and this Dr. does not even know me.
I did take the Gabapentin as prescribed. Now I’m afraid to start any new medicine without asking about side effects and checking google. Sorry this was so long. My side effects were vision changes, and I was dizzy. Contacted him and he changed it to 100 mg, to build up to 2 a day. Still a problem for me. Called him again and said could I stop. He said I could. Thank the Lord. Your thoughts?
Steve W
I was given gabapentin to help with a sciatic-related foot pain, I don’t remember the starting dose but within six months it climbed to 2400 mg, i.e. 800 mg. three times daily. I began to suffer withdrawal symptoms even while taking this amount. Initially, I suddenly quit taking the medication and became very sick; my blood pressure shot way up; I began to have a type of intermittent brain fog that is hard to describe, and though normally agile, I became clumsy and unsteady on my feet, even falling, which is unlike me.
My regular doctor provided me with a schedule to gradually work my way off of this medication which took about six months. Every time I reduced the medication (I think it was by 100 mg every four to six weeks, my Dr. had to re-prescribe for a 100 mg capsule for this purpose) it caused two to three days of near misery for each reduction.
My description underplays the trauma I suffered: High blood pressure (160/115), brain fog like mini black-outs, dizziness, nausea, confusion and insomnia.
I’m not a medical professional but I recommend seriously questioning this medicine and it’s benefits for any condition before taking. In my case the cure was far, far worse than the illness.
Terri
I was prescribed Lyrica and then Gabapentin for shingles pain. I was able to tolerate Lyrica but it’s expensive. The Gabapentin stole my brain. It was a few months before I could think clearly and stop making mistakes at work. My doctor said it should have been out of my system, but it did cause changes in my brain. I will never take it again.
Rhonda
I was prescribed Gabepentin for severe back pain. It affected my vision, caused “muddled” thinking, loss of concentration, loss of coordination. My husband said, after 2 months of me taking it, “What is going on? You’ve never been this way before.” After 30 years together, he does know me pretty well.
Decided to talk to Doc, he said yes, he knew of these side effects but didn’t want to scare me off taking it! Unbelievable. I stopped taking it, got my brain back, and started a regimen of targeted stretching and diet changes, along with some chiropractic care. My back has never been better and no pills of any kind. Seems unethical NOT to tell your patient of potential side effects.
Sherry
Doctors have been wanting to give me these drugs or Lyrica for my fibromyalgia and then my small fiber neuropathy for over 20 years. I have resisted due to the known side effects. I once took 100 mgs of Neurontin, and I was a walking zombie, and I knew you had to keep increasing the dosage.
I was very surprised when my 48 year-old daughter had an Ileostomy 2 weeks ago, and one of the meds the surgeon wanted to give her while she was in the hospital was 300 mgs of Gab to help relieve the nerve pain she may get, and when I asked why, their reason was they found that this drug was better than an opioid which was more addictive. I laughed at them and told them NO. They probably would have sent her home with a prescription for it, too.
Dougie
Very preliminary, but I was prescribed 100 mg of gabapentin 3 times a day after a partial knee replacement 5 weeks ago. After two weeks, there was not much discomfort, so I gradually weaned down to one tablet per day, at bedtime.
As a lifelong insomniac with sleep apnea (controlled by CPAP therapy) for 20 years, I was AMAZED that I was sleeping 6 hours straight, night after night. About a week ago, I ran out of gabapentin, and immediately resumed my pattern of sleep 2-4 hours, awake for 1-2 hours, then catnap for another hour or two.
I requested a refill, and the doctor agreed, with two additional refills. I am very glad I read the possible side effects here, so I can keep an eye out for them, but I am going to continue my usage of 100 mg a day a while longer to see if it continues to help with my sleep. I don’t do well with the normal sleep meds, and melatonin gives me very vivid and unpleasant dreams. Wish me luck!
Kay
This drug will not relieve major pain! It’s not a pain killer! My husband forgot his name and my name. I took him to ER, and it took a lot of bipolar meds to bring his sanity back. He stayed in hospital a week! Be careful, especially at high doses, but my husband only took one hundred milligrams twice a day. To be fair, my husband has frontal lobe damage from when he had an aortic dissection but he functions and makes intelligent decisions. We don’t know but the thought is it might have interfered with the firing of his frontal lobe. People should still be very careful with it! I take three hundred milligrams three times a day but had to stop. It plummets my BP to the sixties over fifties, and I get very faint!
Tom
How about some stories of success on Gabapentin? On it (12 capsules per day) for 30 years for itching and pain. SAVED MY LIFE AND SANITY.
C
This drug is being used by veterinarians to releave pain in dogs. Of course they cannot tell you what is happening to them taking this drug. I wonder.
George
I learned the hard way from a Saturday night trip to the ER. When I told the Doctor I had run out of Gabapentin a week ago she immediately administered me a large dose along with a prescription for more.
WILLIAM
I was prescribed gabapentin for pain or depression or I am not sure. I do know that it razed my brain and made me into a zombie. It reminded me of being on beta-blockers. I fed them to the toilet.
My wife was prescribed them, though I did not know. Later I discovered that she was having hallucinations. Stop gabapentin. stopping hallucinations.
I have no idea why it is so popular with physicians.
Lisa
I was prescribed this drug 3 years ago after suffering from nerve pain (caused by working on concrete all day). Never took any of it. I quit my job instead. Nerve pain went away. I truly feel for all who have or are currently suffering from horrible side effects from Gabapentin. For me, the side effects far outweigh any positive element that may come, whether they are temporary or permanent. And for a drug to be prescribed for an array of issues is perplexing. If I experience any pain now, I only use natural alternatives, period.
Phyllis
Gabapentin saved my life when anxiety bloomed with menopause. I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve taken 300mg 4-6 times a day but mostly 3-4. I’m so grateful for it.
NJ
This is for Jen from your post of May 39, 2019. My Dr recently put me on Gabapentin for chronic migraines from a head injury. After reading all the research I’m concerned about staying on it and would also like to transition to CBD oil. I wondered if you would be willing to share more info as to how you are doing with that transition? Thanks so much!
Mark
Florida
I have long-standing treatment-resistant bipolar illness. My psychiatrist prescribed gabapentin for sleep, as I’m in the last phase of Klonopin withdrawal. Because I’m hypersensitive to most medications, I’m taking 50 mg; YES, 50 mg, opening up a 100 mg capsule and taking half of it. For two nights, great sleep, better mood, and even improved erectile function. But I’m also developing edema in my feet and have gained 7 pounds in two days. This isn’t just frustrating, it’s sad. Finding a drug that seems to be helping me, only to experience a potentially serious side effect is heartbreaking. Without gabapentin I fear my life will once again be difficult, and the sleep I need will no longer be possible.
Julie
Wisconsin
My doctor wanted me to try Gabapentin for my pain in addition to my hydrocodone. I have 10 bulged discs in my back. L5/S1 is completely gone and is bone on bone. Zalsohave 2 curvatures to my spine plus straightening from lordosis. Have bone spurs, nerve entrapment,and fibromyalgia.
Have researched Gabapentin and saw the horrible side effects. No way am I taking this drug. My doctor would rather see me suffer than giving me 1 more hydrocodone a day. The medical profession should be ashamed. They take an oath to do no harm, and yet so many of us are being harmed in such a big way.
Jay
Las Vegas Nevada
I have been taking 3200 mg per day of Gabapentin for diabetic peripheral neuropathy for 3.5 years. For me it does appear to increase nerve pain whenever it begins to wear off to a level that is more than it might naturally be, I think. So it does have the same pattern as some addictive drugs like opiates. It has a built-in effect of discouraging a person from quitting the drug.
The benefits of Gabapentin for me have been that it calms me down, helps with sleep, numbs the nerve discomfort at times. But it’s a roller coaster. The drug takes a longtime to get into your system, so once it wears off, you have to wait a long time for it to start working. If you taper off, which I have done as a test to see how my body is without it, you might feel depressed, and have a hard time sleeping for a while. If you begin taking it, you may actually cry or get emotional about a movie or song you hear. But for me that seems to be an over-reaction. I only get some hours of relief from the nerve discomfort. But with this pain anything is better than nothing. The doctors say there is nothing else that helps. I do think opioids did help, too, but that is another big mess.
Annemarie B.
Albany, California
Gabapentin was prescribed for me for unexplained severe back itches. I was given a small dose, and it helped instantly. I had a wonderful and much needed-night’s sleep, and the next two days were also painless where I usually still would be suffering. Several days afterwards I had to go to the Emergency Room with a compacted colon. Being a great lover of fruits and vegetables it was suggested that some of my other medications must have been interactive with the drug, and Gabapentin could not have been at fault. It was the only new drug I had taken for a long time. Well. There will be no second time for my Gabapentin – and my unbelievable back itch persists.
Cat
louisville, ky
I find that the gabapentin works much better for me than the clonazepam I was taking for GAD.
Jen
I am on Gabapentin for nerve damage. Have been on it about a year. I am only on 300 mg 2-3 times a day. It’s not enough for all my symptoms from Lyme, chronic pain, etc. I am weaning off it. It causes me dizziness, dry mouth, etc. I have wondered if this generic is worse. I am transitioning to CBD oil. Doctor thinks Gabapentin is great. He’s on it and has been for nerve pain. He also says it’s not addictive. I beg to differ. I read all over about people trying to wean off it. Any advice on getting off this?
Lisa
I took gabapentin for nerve damage after hip replacement. It made me crave crave sugar obsessively, and I gained weight. I weaned off slowly over 6 months and have been off for a month now. Sugar cravings gone, feel better mentally. I am searching for ways to deal with the painful neuropathy.
Carole
Florida
I just started Gabapentin 100 – 200mg at night along with 50mg of Tramadol. This has stopped my sleepless nights caused by never pain in right thigh to foot. I have L4-L5 fusion with L3 herniated disc.
I am very pleased with the results of this drug, but will keep my dose as low as 100mg if I works. I have energy which was lacking due to not sleeping at night. Gabapentin helped me!
Diane
Ohio
For diabetic foot pain, this has been a life saver. I have been on 300mg once per day. I take it about 5 hours before I am wanting to fall asleep, and it helps me with that too. An additional benefit has been that the pain I’ve suffered for over two decades from a cervical spine condition is tamped down significantly with only the occasional ER-level flare. Physical side effects for me are dizziness, dry mouth, blurry vision sometimes, edema in my feet though that could be from salt intake.
Mentally? hm.. kind of that drunk, I-love-you-man way of speaking sometimes, foul-mouthedness when it kicks in sometimes, so yes maybe “hostility,” because I find myself thinking negatively and dropping more than a few F-bomb. Thankfully only my cat usually hears me. It definitely affects my thinking but as others have said, it’s hard to explain. I feel more, I guess introspective? I look at my life, present and past, and I should say already that I am Dx w/ depression and anxiety, so maybe when the gabapentin makes me introspective that is worsened? I guess I just get very … spacey, but well, like if you’ve ever been marijuana stoned, sitting around talking with your friends about life and whatever. It’s that, but going on in your own head, lol.
Still, personally I don’t think that’s all bad. I’ve done a lot of good writing to that end, you know, both journaling and fiction so if it makes someone feel this way, quit complaining and use it to work out what truths it makes you think about maybe? Overall, I feel the benefits of this medication are worth what side effects I’ve experienced.
Mike
San Diego
I was on gabapentin (max dose was 900 mg 3 x = 2700 daily) for pain during radiation therapy for tonsil cancer. After the first two pills (300 mg each) at bedtime the first day, I awoke in the best mood of my life. I had other great positive effects as I was gradually reaching the target dose: improved short-term memory (no longer forgetting why I left one room of the house to go to another), decreased anxiety, much-increased desire to create (I try to write), much better sleep, much reduced social anxiety (I am 65, male and autistic – slightly Aspie), NO more restless leg syndrome (RLS) after a lifetime of having it, much fewer digestive issues and even a temporary change in sexual orientation (I have since early adulthood identified as gay, but started having sex dreams about women and actually started ogling them as well – I know, TMI).
I became talkative and social and outgoing and not afraid of people anymore. It was, in short, a miracle drug for my autism and other issues. But most of the best of these diminished as I got to max dose. The only bad side effects I had were confusion and clumsiness in the morning, and an increase in depression after a while. It was very effective in getting me through the pain from the RT.
Six days ago, after exactly following my taper off schedule from the radiation MD, I took my last two pills at bedtime. Since then, I am experiencing the worst stomach acid problems and the RLS has gotten so bad I can’t sleep at all, even sitting up. I went to urgent care two days ago for the digestive distress, and they gave me a lidocaine “cocktail” that helped for one day. Now I am back to the horrible stomach acid (have had GERD for years, but it was under control with omeprazole) and can’t sleep for more than a couple of hours at the most, due to both the RLS and the GERD.
I am waiting for my primary care physician to call me back today. I am hoping these are just withdrawal symptoms, but if they are not, I really don’t see how I will be able to cope, if this is my new reality. Talk about depressing! I have an appointment next week with a psychiatrist and saw a psychologist for the first time this week. I was hoping the psychiatrist would prescribe gabapentin again on a much smaller dosage so I could maybe experience the initial low dose benefits again. But after this week of symptoms and after reading much more about gabapentin, I am thinking it’s a very bad idea to go back on it.
Kate
02493
I was on clonazepam since it came out. It has caused dementia. I was told that taking clonazepam for many years will definitely cause dementia with everyone. Please get off of it Maybe Buspar is better Do research before you take anything.They just found this out. It took three weeks to get off of it
Marie
Ohio
I was on Gabapentin 300mg x 3 times a day for 6 months for back and leg pain prior to a partial L5 laminectomy. I was driving one day and simply did not know where I was or where I was going. It was terrifying and nothing like this had every happened to me. I called my Father and described what was around me to determine where I was and how to get home. When I saw my near I told him what happened and he said that the gabapentin stopped nerve pain messages to the brain and sometimes other messages and in some patients effected their memory. He told me to cut down on the dose and to remember when I am driving that 50 million people have the same prescription. When I think about that I wonder how many people are drugged out of their mind and don’t know it or realize that it is changing their brain.
I am very upset that doctors are prescribing such high does to people without letting them know it can make their lives worse. My step Mother has nerve pain and is 86 and the doctors are increasing her dose from 900 a day to 1800 a day and telling her it is fine because some people are on 2700mg a day. She drives and has trouble with walking and her balance and I cannot help but wonder if she is going to fall and have the quality of her life ruined because her medication causes instability and dizziness. There has to be something criminal about these large doses being prescribed to so many people for off label reasons with no monitoring of the side effects and the damage they are doing to people. Very, very sad and wrong.
Maureen
Las Vegas, NV
I have been on Gabapentin for almost 1 year now. Originally started with 600mg 3 times a day. now I take 300mg 4 times a day. I have been to 4 doctors but my condition has not improved at all. I have a very itchy rash that I am told is an autoimmune disease – atopic dermatitis but no one can tell me what is causing this problem. it is all over my body. have had several allergy tests with varying results based on the doctor. it does not seem like I am actually allergic to anything other than hay fever. I have had to quit working as a result of this horrible condition. I can not wear anything but loose cotton clothing. These sores are very itchy and bleed badly. no topical ointment seems to work and I was give the Gabapentin to help with the itching and to help me sleep. However I only sleep for about an hour after I take the pills at night but then I am awake for the rest of the night. I am extremely agitated all the time. I have zero tolerance for anything. I am very depressed and have gained a lot of weight.
Could this be the gabapentin that is causing my irrational behavior? or am I just so beat down from this horrible rash that I can no longer tolerate anything? I get little or no help from the doctors. The dermatologist at the Mayo clinic to me this condition is not coming from my skin and he could not help me. He barely listened to my when I tried to tell him everything I have been through for the last 2 and a half years. he did not refer me to anyone else for help so I went back to my doctors in Las Vegas. Has anyone had a similar experience?
Barbara
Atlanta
I agree. I took for 19 months. It ruined my mind, my skin has deep painful lesions. I am so upset my crappy doctor ignored all the signs I now easily find here the entire time. My symptoms started off with the lesions and amplified fibromyalgia pain . Now I think I have brain damage from the seizures that resulted from my withdrawal from this “safer non narcotic” poison. I need an attorney
Shirley
Memphis, TN
Hello Everyone
I have been taken gabapentin for the last 2 months. I have this burning and tingling feeling in my foot. I was prescribe 100 mg and a month later 300 mg. I also notice I have dry mouth alone with runny eyes. Just wanted to add a few and I’m so glad I found this forum because I was begining to think I was going nuts.
Ivy
Oregon
I was taking this for nerve pain after shingles. I noticed over the course of a couple of months that I was falling asleep abruptly and waking up more and more confused, sometimes to the point I wasn’t sure where I was or what was going on. I was only sleeping in two-hour increments. The final straw for me was when I fell asleep in my chair in the living room (a first) on an evening my boyfriend had an evening class. I woke up completely disoriented, thinking he was home and in bed and not understanding why all the clocks in the house said 9:00pm (the time his class is over). I was determined someone was trying to trick me. I gradually figured out what was going on, but not until I had really freaked myself out. The thing that sucked was that I had kept taking it because it had improved my mood (I have depression). One of the side effects I found was “a false sense of well-being.” What the heck is that? My doctor had presented it as a harmless drug and I was taking 600mg 2x day. The thing with waking up on the night of my boyfriend’s class and being completely discombobulated really scared me, and I stopped cold turkey because I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to. I couldn’t find anything that said anything about side effects like that, unless I was just reading them wrong. I have only had one other experience with a drug approaching that bad, and it was prescribed by my psychiatrist so I had good support. My doctor is not. I am switching doctors to an FNP and I’m hoping to have a better relationship and get a lot of things straightened out. I tend to react oddly to drugs. That was really unexpected and very scary.
Steve
AZ
I’ve been taking this drug for about 3 weeks, 100mg. 2x a day. I’ve noticed a little clumsiness as well as a 5 pound weight gain. I was given this for numbness in my right foot and ankle.. very little improvement, if any. It may help some, but I’m not one of them. Also, watery eyes since I started with this. Not real happy at this point!
Ellen
Jacksonville FL
I had pain on the bottom of both big toes and saw a podiatrist. I did not have burning or tingling at all. She pronounced me as having neuropathy without even looking at my feet because on my paperwork I indicated a stroke 3.5 years earlier. (I later discovered my shoes were the culprit.) I was in the emergency room the second night. I took 100 mg and had burning and tingling all over my body, high BP and pulse and insomnia. I thought it was from a low dose of Nortryptaline I had discontinued under a doctor’s supervision a few days prior, yet that is not a withdrawal side effect. I kept taking the gabapentin, as I was told to go up to 900 mg. with the largest dose to be in the evening. I had severe dry eyes, nose, mouth and other mucous. Very croaky voice and shakes. The higher the dosage got, the more burning pain. When I reached 900 mg I had a bloody, crusty nose and a rash began. When I called the doctor, I was told this medicine does mot cause a rash. I am having blood pressure and pulse measurements all over the map and full blown neuropathy. Today I was totally unaware of my surroundings. I tried to get off the meds but ended going back up, not knowing which is worse for the nerve pain I didn’t have to start with!
Pat W
Minneapolis, MN
Is anyone taking Gabapenin for Essential Tremor? I’ve been taking it for a couple years, and my tremor has gotten worse much more quickly than it had in the previous 35 years. It’s become very difficult to use a keyboard, and my writing has become very jerky; I have to steady my writing hand with the other for it to be legible. I don’t know what the typical progression of the condition is, but mine had been very gradual until starting Gabapentin. I too have experienced daytime drowsiness and balance problems.
Lee
Alabama
My wife was prescribed a low dose (100mg 3x a day) of gabapentin for post-surgical nerve pain. It worked very well for the pain. But after a couple of days significant side-effects arose: blurred vision, memory loss, apparently some hallucinations, odd eye movements, and pretty serious ataxia (jerky and delayed muscle control similar to cerebral palsy). So she stopped taking it til we could talk with her doctor, but she probably won’t take it again. This is temporary pain adequately handled with low doses of hydrocodone.
This short experience suggests to me that this is a powerful miracle drug. It very quickly blocks pain and in a different way than narcotics. Most users do not have side-effects, and that is why the drug is so popular. However, I can assure you they are possible and can happen at low dosage. Be careful until you are sure you can handle it.
One thing that was pretty interesting was that my wife was not really aware how serious the side-effects were while they were happening, somewhat like someone who is intoxicated not knowing they are slurring words and stumbling while walking. So it would be very useful to have someone who knows you observe you as you begin taking the medication to watch for effects you may not realize. Definitely don’t drive until you are used to this drug.
Pages like this are mostly to warn about side-effects, not to report on the near-miracle cures that sometimes result. Remember, severe and unrelieved pain is likely more debilitating (and more likely to lead to suicide) than almost any temporary side-effect.
Larry
Green Bay, WI
Taking Gabapentin 1200mg daily along with Venlafaxine 75mg a day. I have taken these medications for 12 days, and the side effects are horrible. I have not left my room this entire time. I have experienced blurred/double vision and lower abdominal pain. I only sleep 4 hours each night and have lost all interest in doing anything. My short term memory has also been affected. I put a call in to my M.D. and I have been waiting for his response. Yes, it has calmed my severe anxiety, but what a heck of a price to pay!
Daniel P.
Select from list
So far gabapentin has given me my best month in 20 years.
Problem. Alcohol.
Angela marie
Florida
I actually sleep through the night.
sandy
florida
Amazing how some have no problems and others do. My heart goes out to all those experiencing such horrific side effects. My experience is much better. This medicine is helping me so much tho I do use a lot less than what is prescribed. I always use less than what the doctors tell me to, even on basic scripts, watching my reaction very closely but so far (3 months in) I’m good–first time without pain in 10 years.
Perdurabo
I have had only good results as well. On Gabapentin for 6 years at 1200mg/day. At times I take only 600mg, depending on need. No real issues with it. Helps me sleep and levels out my mood in a way that is amazing. I used methamphetamine for years and suspect this damaged my serotonin production. Gabapentin has helped a great deal with this. I do not use amphetamines any more. Married for 18 yrs strong and have an awesome 15yr old kid. My heart goes out to all suffering. Stay strong and alive. You have people who love you.
Hazel
LOndon
I have been on Gabapentin for nerve pain for about nine months now with no side affects. Over this time, my dosage increased to the max. 2800mg. per day. The only problem I am having is that it worked great until about a month ago, and I thought I had waved all my pain away. Pain has set in again on what seems like a permanent basis so I feel that it loses its effectiveness.
Pam
Maine
This drug is very dangerous I know someone who has been taking this drug and she has every side effect there is she has had pnumonia six times this year and I know it’s because of this medication she is so forgetful she will start tell you something and completely forget what she was saying it’s awful watching her on this medication please if your reading this don’t take this drug !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brenda
Devon Engand
I have recently come off gabapentin,400mg three times a day.I came to the conclusion that it was just making my condition words .Neuropathy poss.due to injury from ski boot over the years.When my middle day dose was due my feet and lower legs were craving the dose.I was loathed to increase so visited the surgery and saw another doctor.She suggested a different medication.So l lowered the dose of gaba. Over a week and a half.
I noticed that during that time my feet and legs lost that pain and tingling, burning and it all settled down.Anyway l started the new meds.,forgotten the name, and the side effect was almost instant.Took it for two nights then stopped as l couldn’t put up with the continual nausea and diarrhea. So no more, altho I did take one more dose a week later just to see.Same again.When l saw my G.P. after three weeks l told her that l didn’t want anything else as l couldn’t put up with side effects.
I don’t have the time as l look after my mother who is 100 and a half years old. So far things are okay and l am enjoying not having to swallow anything other than my vitamins.One thing l will add taking a multi-B complex vitamin is so good and soothing and keeps me on an even keel.
Linda
I have read through the comments about Gabapentin and was sad for those whom had bad experience with this med because this happened to my father as well on just 2 100mg of Gabapentin a day…it didnt help him. But I was prescribed this drug, starting out at a small dose that did not help, 1 100mg 3x a day, so I was titrated up and kept getting titrated up until I was on 3200mg a day which finally produced results for me. The reason it being prescribed was for severe nerve damage pain going down both my legs, causing severe burning and cramping in them as a result of my L2, L3, L4. L5 Lumbar spine being eaten up with arthritis and with bulging disc in each of those. I finally found relief at the 3200mg doseage and Ive been on this dosage for about 2 years now with no side effects other than occassional problems with short term memory, being forgetful at times, but that could be attributable to my age as well as I am 58 years old and not as sharp in my mind as I use to be at the age of 21. I weigh all of 108 pounds and this has been steady all through my doseage so Ive had no weight gain. Its also helped me with my mood, I feel more alive on this med than I did before I began it, because of the severe nerve pain I had been in before, I could barely function. It has been a life-saver for me in helping this horrible burning pain shooting down my legs, and also the feeling like I was walking on shards of glass before I began Gabapentin, it took all that pain away. With what it has done for me, the gains Ive gotten from it far outweigh the risks involved, especially for the fact I have had few side effects or problems with this med. I wish it worked for everyone like it has for me so that they too could experience the benefits I have from Gabapentin. All the best to the sufferers out there searching for what will finally work for them.
Mel
Ohio
I have taken this drug for 3 months and have suffered strange side effects. My pharmacist urged me to push the issue with the Dr. to taper off the drug. For all of those reading this forum, the reason I am posting is because of the information my pharmacist provided to me on 7/25/18. They are getting ready to classify this drug as a narcotic. They being the people who regulate and classify drug’s. Some of the adverse reactions of this drug can be liver function, kidney function, and pancreatic function damage.
I am now being scheduled for “function” tests of these organs because of the suspected adverse reactions of this drug. I have trusted the advise of my pharmacist’s for over 20 years and they have never steered me wrong. I was prescribed a med 15 years ago and had moderate paralysis. The doctor claimed it wasn’t from the drug. On the sixth day I had 2 witnesses to the paralysis, they immediately called the head pharmacist, he said do not take anymore. The pharmacist contacted the medical board and within a year the drug was pulled from market. ALWAYS, ask your pharmacist about meds and possible side effects you may be experiencing. It seems they will listen better than the doctors.
Ivy
Michigan
I have taken 3600mg/day of neurontin for about 15 years for small and large fiber neuropathy and other neuropathic pain all caused by Lyme disease. I am floored reading all of this because I never had any of these side effects…in fact, I tell people gabapentin has no side effects! The only problem I had was when a doctor told me to stop taking it and to take GABA supplements instead because they are the same thing. They are not. I had withdrawal symptoms that made me feel like I was going insane, I cried all the time, etc. I’m surprised I didn’t have seizures. I didn’t realize why it was happening but went back on the gabapentin…and they went away.
The reason I came out here in the first place was to see if you are not supposed to lie down after taking it, because I take it before bed and always have severe coughing spasms. But I guess there must be another reason.
Lisa
Springfield
Hi, If you have coughing when you lie down, you may have reflux. Your doctor can help with this. Best wishes for good health.
Todd
Denver CO
I was given Gabapentin for anxiety and to help me taper off a 30 year benzo prescription. I started 300mgs 3x a day six weeks ago as my shrink told me it was much safer than the xanax. At first I thought i had found a miracle drug, it lowered my anxiety considerably and I had no adverse reactions. Suddenly, 10 days ago, I began experiencing horrific side effects: blurry vision, headaches, muscle and joint pain throughout my body, my eyes are dry, red, & itchy, rapid mood changes, insomnia, lower left quadrant abdominal pain and swelling, strange thoughts, and inability to concentrate on anything. I’m afraid I’ve done permanent brain damage and haven’t left the house in 4 days. I’ve ruled out all other meds, the symptoms worsen ten fold an hour after I take as little as 100mgs with no other drugs in my system. To make matters worse my shrink says Gabapentin cant be causing this since it was well tolerated for a month and there hasn’t been a dosage increase. I know, without a doubt, that it IS the Gabapentin. Now I’m in a situation where I’m suffering from withdrawals from this horrible drug and I can’t even taper off because the side effects are as bad or worse than the withdrawals! Has anyone else experienced “delayed” side effects? Does anything help with them or with withdrawals? How long will this last? I’m about to lose my job because I’m unable to leave the house much less work! I’ve taken dozens of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and just about every recreational drug on the planet (though I’ve been clean for 5+years) and have never experienced anything even close to this nightmare! Heroin & benzo withdrawal is a cake walk in comparison. I can’t believe I’m going through this hell after only using it for one month
Dianne
ON
I have been on Gabapentin for about 3 years. The dosage started at 300 mgs. 3 times a day and a few months ago was increased to 400 mgs. 3 times a day. This drug has the worst side effects of any drug I have been on, and I have been on, and come off, many due to my many health issues. Some of those drugs include, Cymbalta, clonazepam, topirimate, and many different other ones. I noticed in Feb., around the time that my Gabapentin had been increased, and I had finished tapering off of Clonazepam, that I was suddenly having extreme difficulties with balance, cognitive function, double vision, stuttering, tremors, and twitches. I also have gained 40 lbs since then. I have also lost my driver’s license while on this drug due to some of those issues but they were a little less intense then. That should give you an idea of how serious these side effects are now.
I find myself struggling just to function normally every day, and it is exhausting. As a result I wanted to get off of this drug. I started by taking 100 mgs. out for a month. That is approximately 8%. I did feel a little more shaky but shrugged it off and dropped another 100 mugs the next month, which is approximately 9%. By the third day, I had to be rushed to the ER in an ambulance because I could not stop seizing!! I have had to return to my original dose and start tapering again at 5% every 2 weeks. (This is all under a docotor’s supervision.) I am currently down the 100mgs. again and have noticed the shaking getting worse.
I am absolutely terrified of dropping this any more. I also cannot stay on this drug because the side effects are so serious. I feel stuck and now very afraid to stay on or get off of this poison. I do not want to go through that again. I have done extensive research on this drug and what it does and can do to the brain and body. It is scary stuff!!
Christine Mallin
FL
I feel like my eyes are permanently crossed and after reading this forum, I’m realizing it’s from the gabapentin! I was taking it sporadically for neck pain that was extending into the back of my head and down through my shoulders. A new physical therapist told me the gabapentin is dangerous to take like I’ve been taking it and told me to wean off. sometimes I would take 1200 mg a day, sometimes 0mg (I took kratom capsules incstead). So how do I wean off of it?
Carla D
Oregon
POSITIVE experience with Gabapentin…LIFE SAVER.
I have been on Gabapentin for five years and do NOT have side-effects. It has helped me VERY MUCH with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) from my hip to my toes, Migraines (Hemiplegic and Vestibular) AND my Corneal Neuropathy caused by a corneal abrasion in 2009. My pain was so bad on my leg, I could not wear clothes, socks or shoes. The pain in my eye was so much I could not function.
My migraines sent me to bed for 3 days 3-4 times a month – I lost my job due to excessive absenteeism. Gabapentin HAS GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK.
EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT and if these patients are having these kind of issues, there has to be other underlining ideologies causing them.
I have been helped tremendously by this drug, as have others I’ve spoken to. I switched from Percocet, Oxy and Vicodin to Gabaopentin and am ENJOYING life, as are my friends who are also taking Gabapentin for other things. This drug is a lifesaver for us all.
As a mental health provider, I question the mental health stability of these “suicide” patients by placing their issue on some other problem because it is NOT Gabapentin.
Suicide thoughts are already there before the drug is administered. If the patient does NOT have counseling for suicide thoughts/depression, their perception of life will ALWAYS get worse with or without Gabapentin or any other drug. The drug does NOT cause suicide thoughts; the thoughts are ALREADY PRESENT and untreated.
I was originally put on Gabapentin because CRPS comes with an 85% suicide rate. As part of my treatment, my pain management specialist REQUIRED me to have at least six (6) sessions with a psychological therapist – not because he thought Gabapentin would cause suicide but that the CRPS IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH SUICIDE condition (pain level is 42 out of 50 on the national McGill pain index – this is higher than pain associated with: digit amputation without anesthesia, unprepared childbirth, shingles pain, cancer pain, and last but not least a fracture is only rated at 18 out o 50 (again, my pain is 42 out of 50). I went to her for CRPS, not Gabapentin. Even though I am a mental health provider, I went through the psych therapy, along with other therapies along the way. My mental health is in top form; taking Gabapentin since 2013.
If CRPS has a high suicide rate and this Gabapentin (very questionably) has a high suicide rate, one would consider me (and others like me) to be a suicide statistic right now. However, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. I am a functioning mom of two, married 32 years.
I felt I needed to STRONGLY state that the negative opinions stated by other patients above IS NOT the norm for Gabapentin (you can safely take 1800mg-3600mg a day.
These patients need to consult with a therapist, not blame Gabapentin. I, and others like me, are proof that this drug is a MIRACLE LIFE-SAVER.
Furthermore, patients should investigate other forms of pain management. I have had tremendous and miraculous heeling by using FSM treatments (Frequency Specific Microcurrent). It is painless, non-invasive and WORKS. I almost lost my leg due to CRPS but FSM treatments and Gabapentin have restored my leg and my LIFE.
Do NOT say this miracle drug is the problem of your mental instability – it was there before you started the drug. It would be the same as if a person got pregnant while taking Tylenol and blaming the Tylenol for the pregnancy – it’s unfathomable.
People who are saying the Gabapentin caused their memory issues most-likely have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, a food sensitivity disorder, or some other underlying mental-health condition.
A lack of vitamins/minerals can cause memory loss along with a gazillion other conditions. These people should take Vit. E, Omega 3 fatty-acids, Ginseng, Acetyl-L-Carnitine (just to name a few) to promote memory enhancement, as well as play memory games to enhance memory function (Brain Age is the #1 top game to enhance memory skills and can be played on any device – I play it while waiting for my family when we are out running errands.
I started playing and my score was the age of an 82 year old. My score is now that of a 20 year old (the younger the age, the better your memory is). My real age is 55.
Copious amounts of evidence associated with the above-mentioned symptoms by these patients can also be caused by “Food Sensitivity Disorder”. Sensitivities to certain foods/spices, etc., can be found my taking two very simple blood test called IgG and IgA. Eating foods you are sensitive to can cause ALL the above-mentioned symptoms these patients are experiencing. Taking away the foods will take away the symptoms. Eating theses sensitive foods causes the brain to swell, thus, halting proper functions of neurons associated with EVERY aspect of the mind and body.
For example: One can drive from work to home in 10 min on a clear sunny day. Make that same trip on a foggy day with 1 foot visibility and it will take you 30 min to make the same trip. This is how food sensitivities affect brain function. The swelling obscures the neuropathic pathways needed for proper function; much like the fog obscures the road preventing timely passage of traveling vehicles. Take away the foods causing the “brain fog” (yes, it is a real diagnosis) and the brain will begin to function properly – providing there are no other circumstances.
Another thing, 90% of children diagnosed with Autism. OCD, ADHA, etc. do NOT have these conditions at all yet are being medicated with mind-altering medications such as Prosac and the like. If the parent were to just do an IgG and IgA test and take away the suspect foods, the child should start to appear normal within 1-2 weeks.
Our children are proof of this – our daughter became uncontrollable at home, went from all A’s and a teacher’s dream student to getting suspended and grades dropped from A’s to D’s/Fs. She made choices unbecoming of her personality. This change occurred when she started her menstrual cycle. Knowing her hormones had changed, I ordered an IgG and IgA test for her. Of 200 foods, the only response was pineapple. We took her off of pineapple and within 3 weeks she was all A’s again and back to herself. The teachers asked what happened. I told them. They are now educating the parents of their students on how diet affects performance on so many levels in homes of keeping these children OFF OF DRUGS.
Our son was worse than her. His behavior was a parents/teacher’s worst nightmare. He had been suspended more times than I care to mention. They said to institutionalize him. His doctor wanted to put him on several drugs, including Prosac, but I said NO – lets test his food sensitivities. His behavior was so horrible, he required a personal assistant to be with him at school. After testing, his list was so long for foods he was sensitive to that it was easier to look at the list of food that he could have (those he was not sensitive to). He quickly straightened up and would eventually be rid of his aid. Within two years he had become a teacher assistant while in school, as well as a math tutor.
Both children are now fully functioning members of our community. Our son will soon get a Bachelor degree with a 4.1 GPA; with a double major (Computer Science and Math), minoring in Computer Assisted Business Management. Our daughter just graduated with a Bachelor in math and statistics, minor in art and photography; graduating with honors. They have both been working since age 16 and NEITHER OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN ON ANY KIND OF DRUGS – TREATED ONLY WITH DIET CHANGES.
Gabapentin IS A MIRACLE and people should stop blaming their problems on this drug. They had their mental-health issues PRIOR to the drug and it has NOT been properly diagnoses and/or is being ignored. These folks are NOT seeing things for what they are. They need psych therapy and education on how diet affects the brain and body as a whole.
Get an IgG and IgA test, SEE A THERAPIST, EXERCISE, take supplements and get you life back. Gabepentin is NOT the cause of your issues.
Ryan
Cali
Is it possible your experience with this medication is rare, and you are the outlier?
Ivy
Oregon
I think the number of people on here who are having trouble points to the fact that it is the gabapentin. You may be one of the people it did help. It didn’t help the rest of us, and while your advice may be well meant, pointing your finger at us and telling us we’re the problem isn’t helpful. I do think, as was suggested, that you’re an outlier, but felt maybe that should be worded a little more strongly to make up for the people you’ve made feel worse for something that isn’t their fault. Please think about the type of forum you’re in and the words you use, because they can cause people pain. Thank you.
Donna
Jacksonville, FL
I have been on and off Gabapentin for many years . My symptons include blurred vision, memory loss , anxiety and, most recently, facial tics. I have decided to start tapering down my usage and come off this horrible drug.
Lisa
Studio City
I have been on Gabapentin for a few years. Was taking as needed for fibromyalgia. A month ago I was having bad episodes so I took my maximum suggested dose of 300mg 3x a day. Since I have been taking this dosage I have had severe pain in my right knee, and left one is getting worse. I was curious to find out if anyone else has experienced this side effect. I can barely walk now. Please let me know. And if they went off, did this pain subside?
Jeana
Ohio
Gabapentin and knee pain. My left knee, above my knee, below my knee and behind my knee gets so sore I can’t take it anymore. Both my legs ache terribly. I also started having weird thoughts of jumping of a balcony at work. I’ve had bad dreams too. I had major c-spine surgery from a crushed spinal cord. I experience shaking and tremors all the time. Gabapentin started relieving pain from my neck immediately but now, I’ve had to stop taking it. I started at 300 mg x 3 daily then tried 300 x2 then 300 x 1 and with each dose, I get extreme leg pain. I’ve had pain in my right elbow too. Unfortunely, I can’t continue with it.
Dolores
GA
Diagnosed w/fibromyalgia, severe pains all over. While getting a massage, a chiropractor, whom I did not know, overheard my conversation with my massage therapist ( who changed her location to chiropractor facility.) When finished with massage and started to leave, chiropractor mentioned that recent findings seem to be relating fibromyalgia to possible food allergies and mentioned blood tests could help pin point these possibilities.
I immediately arranged to have tests done. Results showed a 65% allergen to SOY…ALL TYPES OF SOY. The remaining top nine were all very negligible. The Chiropractor said she had NEVER see such a high reaction to SOY.
I went home and threw out all food stuffs with soy. I started reading labels and was in for a huge shock! SOY, SOYBEAN OIL, in fact all types of soy are in 95% of the food products on grocery shelves! And I always loved Chinese food!
I thank God I am totally cured – no fibromyalgia anymore! I am so thankful an astute chiropractor overheard our conversation.
My lifestyle has totally changed. I RARELY eat out if at all. Most restaurants use soybean oil in some form, usually in
vegetable oil, yes I found out the hard way.
The kicker to all this is that the surgical anesthetic, Profopol, is SOY BASED! Again, I found out the hard way! I now cook everything from scratch, do not use any food with additives or preservatives.
I AM FREE FROM FIBROMYALGIA!!!
Melinda
California (CA)
I have been on this nightmare drug for 6 months. And I have been hospitalized 7 times since starting!?! I cannot help but wonder if it is to blame. I started this to help wean myself off from the narcotics I take for severe muscle and migraine pain following a burst aneurysm in my brain 12 years ago.
I wonder if it is better to be yet another ” pain med statistic ” rather than a bumbling, mumbling sedated sloth. For those who suffer: may God bless and keep you safe. For those who have achieved success and a better quality of life from this medication: may you continue to be blessed. May we all find relief, peace and blessings in our own lives. Love, laughter and hope to one and all. ?
Dee
Texas
I have had the knee pain and low back pain with it as well. But I have not finished weening off of it and am waiting to be off of it for six weeks before I am sure gabapentin is causing it.
Peter
Oregon
I have psoriatic arthritis and upper back chronic pain from car accident and 10 knee surgeries 20 years ago. Only medicine that helped was codeine, Tylenol or Vicodin. But to control pain I was taking too much so I ve been taking suboxen. On top of it I’ve taken 1 gabapentin 300mg at night with ambien 10 mg. It was working somewhat. But last year, May when I started to slowly get off from suboxen, I started to have serious sinus pain on the right side that turned into a full-blown migraine. I ended up in ER 8 times. Last trip was in an ambulance.
2 months ago my pain Dr. asked me to take gapapentin at dinner time. So I did that. My nightly sinus problem disappeared the first night. I have energy to do stuff after work. But I can only sleep 5 hours, sometimes 4. I’ve increased G 3x day. If I take it an hour later at night I wake up with a sinus headache after 3 hours of sleep. I’ve gained weight suddenly, and I get these odd bad memory bursts from my past. I have started periods of depression that has effected my life with thoughts of wanting to die. I have a hard time being socially active and want to be by myself.
Worst thing is when I’m doing something and an old sad memory comes back out of the blue. English is my 2nd language, and I’ve started to forget words. I could go on. But this is turning into a rant. Last thing, I’m having very difficult time with doctors. I have to see 4 separate doctors, because of my multiple health issues. There’s no cohesive teamwork between them. I’m on my own finding treatment for my health problems.
Joy
Sacramento
It’s horrible. I notice I’ve become extremely angry and aggressive since taking it. I take 900 mg before bed for insomnia. I was told it was not addictive and it would be easy to stop. I tried to wean down to one pill (300mg) as I am tired of always feeling infuriated by everything and having that cause problems in my life. Just going down one pill, the first night I slept 6 hours and the second barely 2 and then woke up wide-awake. And by the way, I take also take Clonopin. So, it’s a little odd to me that just going down one pill could cause extreme side effects. Although Clonopin also has bad side effects, it has a longer half-life, and I’ve never felt the extreme hostility that I feel on Gabapentin. I feel very angry at my doctor for acting like this was a lightweight drug when everything I have read says other otherwise. Good luck to you and everyone who is taking this horrible drug.
Michael
Detroit
Had a seizure after taking it the first time. My doctor started me off at 600mg, and it was one of the scariest experiences of my life. It’s also had a lasting impact on my vision (having double vision) and have been getting frequent headaches at the very back of my head ever since then. It’s been over 2 months and still no improvement on either front. Have had a CT scan and MRI of my brain, which supposedly looked normal. Got in to see a neurologist, and she noticed one of my pupils is noticeably larger than the other and has ordered an MRI that looks at the blood vessels in the brain.
Wish I had never taken it and certainly never will again. In fact, it has made me wary of taking any new drugs. Going to go the holistic route from here. Just don’t trust the FDA, the drug companies, or many doctors for that matter. Gabapentin is now a WIDELY prescribed drug and is used in a LOT of off- label uses. Given the possible severity of side effects, none of which I was warned about, it should be prescribed on a much more stringent level.
Annmarie
Boston
After a week, twenty two 100mg gabapentin capsules, I stopped the drug and am suffering side effects. How long will they last?
Rose
syracuse ny
I was started out on Gabapentin about 2 yrs go for chronic pain. I was started out at 1 600 mg tab 3xs a day, …this did nothing it seemed so it was doubled to 3600 mgs daily total . I’ve been hiding all the suicide thoughts not wanting anyone to know, depression is always here it seems. The doubling helped a lot..a miracle drug I called it. Then slowly the pain was coming back. I now am in pain 24/7..to different degrees. And more so than It was in the beginning. Concentration is very difficult, and im extremely forgetful..not like the old me at all. Feeling happy is a rarity. Headaches daily as well. Ive dealt with the suicidal thoughts by repeating to myself..its the drug making me think like this…nothing else. So now I want off the Gabapentin trip….and am looking into CBD oil as a replacement. Would I recommend Gabapentin to anyone? NO! Stay clear from it…I now hope I do not suffer any side affects form getting off it.
RD
Carrollton, TX
Gabertentin helped at first (Only took it for one week), then I ended up with double vision, blurriness and dry eyes. After about a month the blurriness stopped. I still get on occasions double vision.
Rosie
Richmond, VA
I’m sincerely happy for those who can take gabapentin, get relief from pain, and have no side effects. You’re lucky! I’ve been taking a fairly low dose, starting at 400 mg a day for about 6 weeks for nerve pain due to shingles. It made my depression worse (had to up my antidepressant because of it), gave me diarrhea, and caused loss of appetite. I was exhausted all the time even though I was sleeping well. I was even taking naps in the afternoons! I never do that. And talk about fuzzy brained: I had a hard time getting words out (I thought I was going prematurely senile). I couldn’t remember anything. Totally forgot about things I was supposed to be doing at work. Not good. It has helped with the pain, but it’s not worth it. I’m tapering off now, down to 200 mg a day. Can’t wait to be off of it completely.
matt
California
How can the FDA give the ok to any drugs with so many side effects. I have a friend who is on it and she keeps falling down. Insane. You you more drugs to combat the side effects of this drug. That tells me big money runs the fda. Its not about safety.
MigKiller
LA - (Lower Alabama), USA
Matt, your friend may try using a lower dose and slowly titrate the medication dosage upwards to minimize the effects- I had the same issues as I started on too high of a dosage- funny I just posted the below comment in a previous post-
“One point of caution, I have no idea why this med did not come with a huge red caution label advising to “Use caution when driving or using machinery”, this drug can and will make you wobbly legged-and a little mentally loopy.”
This drug tends to build a tolerance effect, based on my research, rather quickly- yet can be very useful for Mood, Anxiety, Neuropathic Pain etc. – See Nellie’s excellent post and my previous posts on effectiveness, and care of use.
Another interesting effect form this medication is its bioavailability of the gabapentin varies inversely with dose, another words lower doses at 300 mg are 67% available but this drops as the dosage goes up- so you get a ceiling effect very fast even as you double or triple doses.
I was recommended at start dosages of 600mg 3 times a day, and was quite wobbly legged! That improved as soon as I dropped my dosage to less than half of that amount and was just fine thereafter.
Your friend should consult with their doctor about lower dosages, and slowly over 1-2 weeks raising the dosage up as needed.
I am not a doctor, these are my personal thoughts on Gabapentin, do not rely on my opinions – seek medical advice only from a licensed medical doctor.
Best Wishes, MigKiller
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Nellie
New England
Its amazing how Gaba helps others and is a nightmare for some. For me it has been a Godsend. It has improved my mood, cheered me up, calmed me down immensely, and helped me to sleep all night. I have read about the side effects, and it is very frightening. I don’t have any. I have been taking this for a few weeks. I take between 300 mg and 900 mg per day but I try and skip a day here and there. I do this because I am trying to avoid side effects and addiction. I am trying to be careful. Sometimes I go two full days without it and put up with the pain and insomnia for a day or two. When I am on it, I love my days.
I am so sorry that this drug is horrible for others. Many of these doctors seemed to have prescribed it irresponsibly. Even my doctor did not say anything about it but I always research medication before I take it.
Lower doses seem to be safer. If anyone is considering this drug, before you take it, tell a family member; take the lowest dose at home, and have the family member check on you periodically. It may be a blessing or a nightmare. I have even read about people who took it for years with no side effects. I think much more research needs to be done on this drug. I believe there are genetic and biological differences in people that need to be discovered in relation their reaction to this drug.
Thank you for sharing your stories so I could make right decision and be careful and I PRAY YOU FIND THE RELIEF YOU NEED.
Mike
Buffalo,NY
After 17 yrs taking methadone for severe back pain with good relief, NYS and workers comp in all their wisdom say my dosage is too high. To top it, my pain management doctor passed away unexpectedly, causing me to search for a new doctor. New doc prescribed Morphine and Neurontin. Within 3 days of starting Neurontin, I am having difficulty walking, respiratory difficulty, and increased clumsiness.
Mary
CA
I took it for 10 yrs. The 1st 3yrs were all good with no side effects. Then stuff started creeping in. And I didn’t understand what was going on until 2017 Aug. My daughter tried to warn me for years that I had problems, and I wasn’t who I use to be. I started tapering off Aug. 17, quit Nov 17, 2017. Terror entered my life then fear, body pain, uncontrollable no-reason crying. My gut felt so bad it was hard to eat, and I experienced most of all the rest of the stuff others have described. Worst is I now have heart-failing weakness. I, too, thought it was a good drug. I didn’t see it creep up on me and didn’t understand what was happening. Be watchful. Listen to family and friends when they are concerned about you. My best wishes for all of us
Carolyn G.
Texas
I recently had shingles and was hospitalized for 3 days while they played around with different medications to send me home with for the pain. (horrible pain) I told one nurse that the feeling I had in my face was definitely nerve pain so they started me on gabapentin, a muscle relaxer and pain medication. The pain has not left me but has improved somewhat. The only side effect I had is a little shakiness at first. It does help me sleep but I am concerned that the pain is still there.
Wendy
I have been taking Gabapentin for just over a year. I had weird dreams when first taking it in hospital but after a few weeks no side effects. I am assuming it is still helping with nerve pain but wanted to get off it to find out.
Renee
Alabama
I have been on Gabapentin for quite awhile. Recently my dose has been increased and inexplicably have found myself on the floor. Standing one minute fine, on the floor the next. This time when I fell I bit my tongue and hurt my wrist. I am 54 yrs old. Wondering if gaba is causing this
Anyone else have this happen?
DS
My dad was on Gabepentin for years and a very, very high dose for neuropathy. He eventually lost use of his legs, tremors, and developed slight dementia. My mom’s best friends had the same thing happen. None of the drs agree with us but both mom and I feel the gabeptin contributed to both of their problems. Dad would just be walking along, and his legs would just buckle and give away. I could tell you countless times he fell and injured himself. I recently had a pain Dr suggest me taking it for back pain, and I was nearly in tears as I bluntly refused it.
JULIA
Colorado
What is up with this website? Gabapentin is one of the safest drugs on the market and that is why they prescribe it so much. The story of the man who was on Benzos for years makes me wonder if he has PTSD and it is only now manifesting without the benzos sedating him.
I have PTSD and have suffered insomnia for 6 years. After trying everything natural I finally went to a psychiatrist to get a formal diagnosis and script. Gabapentin is one of the few drugs safe for me to take to help with sleep and anxiety because benzos are bad for those with acute ptsd and with a first generation family member with bipolar, I cannot take many medications.
I’ve found taking the natural Gaba supplements to be almost as good as Gabapentin, the only difference being that Gabapentin hits a bit harder and lasts longer. I used to knock prescription drugs but I cannot even begin to say how grateful I am for this drug. I can finally sleep and am having nice dreams instead of nightmares of being chased, attacked and held at gunpoint. Sleeping better means I can finally manage and work on the other ptsd symptoms. I was making progress before in somatic Experiencing therapy but now I’m making far bigger strides faster because I am not being beaten down by sleep deprivation and the horrible anxiety that causes.
This website reads like a hate-mercial and fear propaganda against gabapentin. Please don’t let fear be the deciding factor if you are deeply suffering as I was. Do more research as there are many many people who report increased quality of life and healing from this drug. I have had a number of unexpected positive side effects from Gabapentin including losing weight and feeling more cheerful. Weight gain and negative thoughts are extremely rare side effects. Half of these I don’t even recognize.
OrangeCrush
Michigan
The people on this board, like Julia from Colorado, who stated “What is up with this website? Gabapentin is one of the safest drugs on the market and that is why they prescribe it so much.”, CLEARLY have not done much research on this topic. Gabapentin has a laundry list of BAD side effects and even a little bit of research on the topic reveals as much. Straight from the magazine pharmacy and pharmacology, there were 5 reported seizures caused by Gabapentin in its initial trial.
I have belonged to MANY pain management forums for the last 20 years, due to suffering from severe back pain most of my life, and the stories I have heard regarding Gabapentin…well, if anyone knows the show The Walking Dead, its a perfect description of many of the people that take this medication long term.
As for myself, I took Gabapentin once as due to the war on opioids, my regular pain management doctor took me off of them and put me on an absolutely brutal taper schedule. I went and found a different pain management doctor after that whole episode and he prescribed Gabapentic. I took it once and had a severe status epilepticus, which is a siezure that lasts a long time or having multiple seizures that keep you in a seizure state for a long time.
I took the Gabapentin at 3 in the afternoon, right when I got home from my doctor’s appointment in which it was prescribed. I woke up at 7 In such a stupor that I couldn’t talk, had almost no control over my muscles, my arms were shaking severely, and even my vision was effected as everything looked pixelated. I knew I was in trouble and tried to get the attention of my wife downstairs. I just barely managed to get myself off of my bed and wound up collapsing into a pile of clothing by my bedroom door. I woke up 2 hours later and was still in the same condition. I was also getting what felt like electrical shocks in my head. I was just barely able to crawl to the stairs and call out to my wife. She called 911 and I was taken to the emergency room. This was roughly 3 months ago and ever since that event, my eyesight has degraded significantly and I had 20/15 vision before this event. I also started getting daily headaches in the back of my head, which I have never had happen in my life before. I am actually going in to see a neurologist to see what is going on.
Over the last 3 months, I have done extensive research on Gabapentin and the sheer number of off label conditions it is being prescribed for and the AWFUL side effects a LOT (massive understatement) of people are having on this drug. Suggesting that Gabapentin is one of the safest drugs out there is absolutely mind boggling given the sheer number of possible side effects reported for this medication and the sheer number of people that are experiencing many of those side effects, myself included. The more research I did, the more shocking it became and the more upset I got that my doctor didn’t warn me about any of them.
My advice to people, at least those that aren’t suffering from epilepsy, is to stay as far away from Gabapentin as possible. Every time a doctor prescribes you a drug, he is asserting that the benefits you will receive from a medication outweigh’s the possible side effects from that medication. Given the huge list of adverse side effects and the HUGE number of people that have experienced these side effects first hand when taking Gabapentic….well, IMO Gabapentin should only be considered as a last resort.
MigKiller
LA - (Lower Alabama), USA
Sorry OC, gotta side with Julia on this one- and I want to point out that it’s irresponsible to scare people off from using medications that might provide life saving relief. This med can serve a purpose, but it might be more prudent to advise the public that some side effects, potential serious side effects may occur and to use the medication carefully.
I am using Gabapentin for withdrawal symptoms, it’s a long story on my opiate addiction so I won’t go there, but . . . this drug has been a Godsend for me- I can’t speak to long term use and maybe that’s where the issues are, but for me every unsuccessful detox from opiates failed due to severe anxiety and back pain, gaba completely alleviated both those issues for me. Another effect from this drug is I simply seem to not give a Sh-t much any more. I simply laugh off troubling, stressful issues. Which is another great effect for a Type A high-strung person like myself.
I am on a low dose ranging from 300 to 1200 mg daily as needed, but it works unbelievably well on the above-mentioned symptoms. I have been using this drug intermittently for the last six weeks on a five day on a one or two days off schedule depending on how I feel, and no crazy side effects or withdrawal symptoms from non use on the off days. It may very well be that I have not been using Gaba for a sufficient time or at sufficient doses to cause the issues that others are experiencing.
I am considering long term use of this drug after competing 90 days of opiate detox for the benefits of keeping my anxiety down- which was an issue prior to opiate use, and for the mood stabilization effects. I would be willing to report back on any ill effects.
I will point out that I also have thoroughly researched this drug, my research is more in reading studies, drug trials, neuroscience studies etc. and not relying on message boards for all of my information. Neurotin, the actual compound name, is one and the same chemical as Gabapentin, and is almost identical in action to Pregabalin which is Lyrica for those interested. This is actually an interesting compound that was developed to mimic the brains chemical production of GABA, yet it does not actually bind to the brains Gaba receptors, and does not inhibit GABA uptake or degradation. What I find interesting is how its effects are produced, in epilepsy we know the effect generated by Gabapentin likely involves its inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels, essentially inhibiting miss firing signals- this seems to be the action that explains neuropathic pain relief also. So yeah, I have read up, the drug appears to be well studied and its actions are well documented for both approved and off label uses. So enough fearmongering please.
One point of caution, I have no idea why this med did not come with a huge red caution label advising to “Use caution when driving or using machinery”, this drug can and will make you wobbly legged-and a little mentally loopy.
Final thought, I would highly recommend this drug for addition withdrawal based on my experience, and possibly for anxiety, and maybe a better choice than benzo’s based on my research, and lastly for neuropathic pain as its labeled for this and I have seen good results in my case for anxiety reduction, neuropathic pain in my back, and overall mood improvement.
Do not fear this drug, use it wisely and do your own research. I am fine at lower doses and short term usage. I will report back as I consider using this med long term for anxiety- In my experience the effects of this med saved my life from opiate addiction, I write this currently on a 1200 mg dose and I feel better than I have in years.
I am not a doctor, these are my personal thoughts on Gabapentin, do not rely on my opinions – seek medical advice only from a licensed medical doctor.
Best Wishes, MigKiller
Orange Crush
Michigan
And I have to disagree with you 100%. Of the literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of posts I have read that deal with people having severe side effects from Gabapentin, the doctor didn’t explain the possible side effects at all in 99% of the cases, and I am included in that group. People should be scared to take many of the medications out there these days, as they are rushed through the FDA without proper long-term testing. Anyone who watches TV should be well aware of this. Many commercials these days is for some drug, and the last half of the commercial is nothing but adverse side effects, many of which include death, cancer, etc.
The FDA is basically bought and paid for. Just watch the documentary on Netflix called “What the Health.” One of the most shocking 2 hours of TV I have ever watched. People should absolutely be aware of the possible SEVERE side effects of this drug, and the mind-boggling number of adverse side effects possible with this medication, and if that winds up scaring them, all the better for it. At the very least, it will get them to start out on a very small dose if they decide to go ahead with treatment and not take doses like 300-600 mg off the bat. It will also give them a heads-up of severe symptoms to watch out for as they take it.
And you can discount my post all you want. All one has to do is read through the 700+ posts responding to this one article to see the SEVERE side effects a lot of people have had. And the more sites you visit, and the deeper you look into this matter, the worse it gets. Again, I have spent the last 3+ months researching this drug, and the more you learn, the uglier it gets.
And it’s not just adverse reactions to the drug when first starting out. Many, if not most, of the severe side effects wind up happening over extended use and get significant worse as time goes on. Again, the best descriptor I can give is the show the Walking Dead. A LOT of people wind up becoming like zombies on this medication. Poor memory, feeling lethargic, loss of muscle control, etc.
And since you haven’t even been on the medication long term, your opinion on the matter simply does not hold up to those accounts of people who have been on it long term. I sincerely hope you don’t have any long term complications, as the last thing I would ever wish for is people to have medical problems or severe side effects to medications. That being said, taking this drug poses serious risks, especially given all of the off label conditions its being prescribed for and based on what I have researched, the longer you take it, the more likely you are to succumb to these adverse reactions.
Mary
CA
I agree with everything you wrote. I was on Gaba for more than 10 years and started off good, happy, then slowly descended into hell. My daughter tried hard to tell me what was going on with me, but I couldn’t see it for years. Now I am off it. The withdrawal was an ongoing hell for more than a year. My health is wrecked, and so is my heart. Congestive heart failure.
Chris
Auckland New Zealand
Well, I injured my back spine about twenty five years ago, was prescribed Temgesic, meant to be non-addictive, yea right, but to be fair it did get me through a period and allow me to somewhat function and keep my family together, anyhow I could see the writing on the wall, went off that and onto Methadone, sword of Dammaclese?
Then I started getting burning down my sciatic nerve, nothing relieved it, then my Doctor had a brainwave n gave me Gabapentin, they were an imeadiate success, I have been taking them now for a number of years initially everything was all good, until I ran out one day, it was a nightmare of pain sweats shakes wild thoughts.
Maureen
TN
I’m on Valentin for nerve pain in my shoulder and arm. Several days, no relief. For those of you taking it for pain, how long before it starts working?
Bridie
New Zealand
I have been taking gabapentin for nerve issues that came out of nowhere they were to replace amitriptyline, i have been on 2 300mg doses a day, 1 in the morning and one at night, I’m supposed to now up my dose to one at lunch also but I’m too scared to as i haven’t had a full nights sleep in a while now and it’s driving me mad. I need to get off gabapentin, I’m miserable, never had a problem on amitriptyline.
Wanda
Texas
I have been taking Gabapentin (2400 mg daily) for about 6 years now without any of the aforementioned side effects – no weight gain, no suicidal thoughts, no arthritis, joint pains etc etc. My neuropathy (unknown cause) is under control and I carry on a normal life. I see the neurologist every 6 mos. to renew a 6 mos. prescription. I am 79 years old, eat nutritionally, exercise every day. Could this be the key?
Hal T
Orlando
I had uper thoracic surgery a year ago. I had no problems with the surgery recovery except my left arm. It hurt from my elbow to my hand especially the little and ring finger. PT helped a bit, serious pain meds were gradually decreased and gab substituted. Pain lessened but still continued. I have noticed mid day drowsiness, a little unsteadyness and fatigue. Not acceptable for me. So I told my doctor that I wanted to eventually get off gab. I am now down to one 300 mg taken at night. I am hoping the pain will diminish with time and no more gab will be needed, but the jury is still out on the future. Not as bad as others, but I will keep my doctor posted. I sure don’t want the side effects to get out of hand.
Ann
Buffalo,n.y.
Had face shingles late January. Prescribed 300mg gabapentin 2x/day. Never relieved burning pain. Only took the 60 pills for a month. Had a mild hand tremor rt. side previously, (old injury). Now the tremor is much worse since gabapentin. Don’t want to leave the house, visit etc. Feelings of dread, anxiety. No energy, very sad. Could gabapentin really have lasting side affects? Off all meds for at least a month to 6 wks! Normally take no medication except vitamin d3 and biotin. Any advice.
Patti
I was prescribed gabapentin for depression, anxiety and pain . At first I thought it might be working . After a few years all my signs returned 10 fold. Going off isn’t an options so I’m told by my doctor. I’ve lost a lot of weight because I’m never hungry. I weight 100 pounds and I’m 5’5 . Five years ago I was diagnosed with alpha one and severe arthritis . That doctor too prescribed gabapentin . I told her I was already on it ( from another doctor ) and she just up it. Like I stated before of my dizziness and loss of memory but no one seems to be concerned. I’m at a lost on what to do.
Deborah
After looking at research, Gabapentin is supposed to increase the chemical called ceruloplasmin, which binds copper. Most of the copper in the blood supposedly should be in this chemical. Please look at PubMed, the long PMC articles when it refers you to one that you can look at for free, and learn about this chemical that the body manufactures. What it does do is use copper for the hinge of the molecule supposedly, and when your body starts building less you have more copper loose in it. A few articles have claimed that copper is bound by adrenaline in the brain, neuronal epinephrine, if it is excess. Adrenaline increase could cause anxiety and nervousness. I researched silica and found it it also in silicosis can increase ceruloplasmin, but that’s deadly. Taking it in liquid form or in capsule is another story. So I tried it, and using it to shift off gabapentin has definitely made it easier for me.
Your mileage could vary, but looking at research on orthosilicic acid, the bio usable form of silica, when they found out that rats lost weight and had their blood pressure returned to normal, taking silica, over a period of time, they tested it on human men and found that it was safe at fairly high doses, which since Fiji water is supposed to have 90 mg per liter of silica, isn’t then too surprising. In other words, our bodies are built to tolerate it, but it isn’t always found in City water.
For me, it is worked well and the study show that it isn’t dangerous except to plumbing, which is one reason it is filtered out of water. so I’m filtering it back in at approximately the amount my ancestors, according to research would have found in their natural water. It seems to be helping a lot for me.
Your mileage may vary, but it’s something to look at.
The other thing is that epilepsy can be induced by too much glutamate in the brain, not the only mechanism, there’s never only one. therefore and he epileptics might prioritize magnesium to the brain or the blood brain barrier. Magnesium threonate does that according to research, look it up yourself, and never trust anyone including me. I have weaned myself off of that and I’m using magnesium brine oil and magnesium malate which is supposed to prioritize itself to building enzymes, hopefully building the correct form of magnesium that the body uses to go to the brain and to the blood-brain barrier. Thereby I hope to replace what gabapentin does for that and reduce the risk of epilepsy and neurological issues related to low magnesium, but what I notice is it helps control my cardiac speed as well. I also looked at research that said that magnesium requirement goes up at sunset, and found indeed that the benefit was greater taken at sunset, and I cheat and use Skin absorption, which for me works, and supposedly for pregnant rats as well.
I know that it does other things in the body, but they seem to be things that are lower priority for me, these were the two that were most important. binding copper, and moving magnesium to the brain or the blood-brain barrier or both, I don’t need to know which thankfully. I noticed that I use both magnesiums in the morning, very small amounts since it is skin absorption, and then rest quietly, and research very recently showed that the brain needs sleep so it can perfuse with cleaning fluid essentially and then clear it out, and my guess is that the Magnesium is going to the blood-brain barrier to let the trash out as it were, so that if I sit quietly mimicking sleep, if I do sleep, if I play a quiet slow computer game or read a book, that is certain point will hit my bladder will suddenly fill and my brain will be functioning correctly again, and I can start my day properly.
again, your mileage may very, but that’s what works for me. Also and I don’t know if it’s related at all, near sunset my heart palpitations go away if I wash my feet and hands, and any area I’ve been using for skin absorption, vitamin D also absorbs through the skin, and psoriasis is supposed to absorb more easily than other skin, less of a barrier, so I use psoriasis on my elbows for vitamin d, and it seems to work. Therefore I also clean that area as well.
I have fibromyalgia, or rather I’m recovering from it which you’re not supposed to be able to do.
Lynn
Missouri
Just started last week one at night now two a day next week three so far it has helped a lot with the nerve pain so I’m pleased but I feel hyper
Sandra
VA
I have taken Gabapentin over the past year or so for a nerve pain condition called CRPS Type 1, which in my case resulted in terrible nerve pain in my foot after a minor calf injury. I was put on 300 mg of Gabapentin at night, which resulted in some partial remission of my pain , enough so that I was able to begin physical therapy and regain function after being first in bed unable to walk for 5 months and then on crutches for another 5.
I have had no side effects, when I began tapering off, I divided the 100 mg capsules in half and decreased 50 mg every month or so. I still take 100 mg every night and taper off completely. While I only had to take a relatively low dose, I was taking additional pain medication and Ibuprofen when I began. I think a lot of times the sadly bad experiences we read about from others make us fearful to to take full advantage of the useful side of prescription medications.
Every body is different, and not everyone has ill effect. I also believe that often the people who post are mainly the ones who have ill effects and side effects, and therefor visit boards to look for help, information and sharing. Therefore I thought it is important once in a while to post a success as well, Also, a scheduled and thoughtful tapering off process can help prevent additional ill effects.
I was one of these people who has previously never had to , and was always afraid to take prescription pain meds due to possible side effects. Even when I received the prescriptions from my doctors, I would wait as long as possible to get them filled, and started taking lower doses at first. However after seeing how they helped, I wish I had not been this overly careful.
Lynda
Mo.
Sandra Va. I think tapering off gabapentin while being lucky enough to obtain other pain medications is huge! I don’t have that option and most I know certainly don’t. I am happy you were able to get off of it. Very intelligent decision however again, I think you underestimate what this medication does. I took a dose of 300 mgs Saturday night hoping to go to church Sunday. A sopping headache and unable to go to the er by myself so why I opted for the Gabapentin. I was manic high off this crap for about 30 minutes followed by an unknown period of existence on the arm of the couch.
My head hurts so bad and in the front where our memory and feelings are. I feel so crushed that this was prescribed for me. I think I may die from having health insurance as opposed to not having any at all. I hope I recover. Too many symptoms after only one dose to lists. I had to take another dose the very next day as my symptoms were so numerous it was my only choice. I only cry and cry. Have you not read or been informed about the dumbing down of our people via big pharm?
Drs are committing suicide because they can’t live with themselves or what they are doing to us. It’s fact. Check it out. And while I am in agony I know and have studied so much about how the medication actually comes to us. The lawsuits that don’t put a dent in what big pharm makes off of peoples lives and livelihoods each day! WE are still given black box medications w/o warning.
Japan is a communist country but I am impressed their country is run by the Government not corporations such as ours. Fluoride in our water. Pesticides in and on our food. Vaccines causing autism and horrendous things to human people? Maybe your Dr. actually cares but many and most are simply not taught how to treat a person a keep them healthy. Our population is kept sick so they can make money off of our lives.
GMO food are not accepted in other countries but the United States puts that crap in everything including the animals that we eat so we still get it. 90 % of our food is processed. People are gaining weight and getting fat simply because the food does not supply adequate nutrition leaving them hungry and eating more and not realizing why? Why? Why? We do nothing and how this crap med made me feel I think people are to messed up to fight back. I’m alone and I certainly do not know how?
I don’t drive. I don’t know how to sue. I lost a perfectly good gallbladder while taking tinazadine. Had no idea I was as an infant. Could not even use the phone. The DR had called and the pd and Social services showed up but they left me that way and my gallbladder was removed the next day. May of 2017 and I had been fighting for my gallbladder since 2013. There were no stones or sludge or anything!
I am angry and so devastated by our so called health care. I’m not blaming you. I’m just beyond angry and like I said have no option of pain medication to taper anything. I don’t want to die but I don’t want to live. Like this. This sucks deeply and we do nothing! This forum and others who have learned about our lobbyist and done what they can to inform and spread the word I am so proud of you. We need leaders. For the people. To heal the people. To love. People not things. <3
Caroll S
ont
I have started gaba about 3 weeks now. I find a change it my mood for the worst. I have become agruementitive and quite moody which was not me before. I am recognising my changes. I sometimes feel foggy in my head and if I am confused and seem to becoming forgetful and weepy for no reason and thinking about sad things and allowing it to dwell in my head. This is not me at all.
I sleep well at night even before taking gaba, so I have no problem with insominia. I just want to share this info so others an recognise changes while taking gaba and see your pharmacist or Dr.
I will be talking to my Pharmacist soon as I will not continue taking it. Thank God it has only been a short time on it, but I feel the side effects of it already.
Anita
AL
I have been on 900 mg on Gabapentin for 5 years for pain and it has been very helpful BUT My large intestine has almost completely quit working! I was in the hospital for a week and one of the Drs told me that I was very close to needing a colostomy bag! I have started to wean myself off. I’m very grateful to the Dr who told me the truth!
Carol B.
Henderson, NV
I have been taking gabapentin for 20 years for nerve damage post-surgery on my foot. I don’t believe I have suffered any major side effects. I take 2 300mg a day sometimes 3.
I’ve never tried stopping so don’t know how that would go but if I forget it or delay for over 12 hours the nerve pain is back.
Patti
Nj
I am on the same amount of gabapentin as you are . Two 300 mg three times a day . It’s been over 10 years. My big side effect is low blood platelets to the point I get dizzy a lot. I feel I’m getting very forgetful. My grown kids says it’s really bad. I’m scared to try and go off. I don’t have a lot of faith in my psychiatrist anymore . I feel trapped and afraid . I don’t know what to do
Betty H
Ms
My husband takes gabapentin for sharp pain that runs up side of his head! Taken for about 4 yrs. I have noticed mood swings, quick anger responses, hand and jaw shaking since taking that I believe are obnormal for him
Jay
NC
I was prescribed Gabapentin after lower back surgery. Not sure it helped with the nerve pain. Developed a canker sore on my lip after a couple weeks. Also night sweats (and unusual body odor). Doc didn’t say anything about discontinuing side affects but I found out what they were when I ran out and didn’t refill. Anxiety, insomnia, felling “crazy”. It’s been 5 days and finally got a decent night’s sleep. Even with the withdrawal symptoms I’m not going back on Gabapentin!
Jay
Las Vegas NV
I was prescribed gabapentin 800 three times a day for diabetic PN. Taken since 2015. It only helps like 50% and for a few hours. At first it make my PN worse for about an hour. Then it noticeably wears off and my PN is back. The side effects make my ankles feel like I have lead weights around them and cannot bend normal. this makes my walking go sideways sometimes. My vision is blurry and doubled. It seems like now my PN is irritated by any food I eat. Even eggs and blood sugar neutral foods. If I stop the gabapentin after a few hours my PN will become very bad. Like a rebound effect. If you go a day or more, hard to sleep and nervous feelings. Not work all this. I think it all calms down after going off of it.
Pseudonym
Alturas,Ca.
At least you have a good sense of humor! I take Gabby too! It helps with insomnia due to neurological pain. Been on it since July of 2016. My doctor switched me to Cymbalta, and I tapered off ‘gabby’. It wasn’t a good experience. I was uber hyper and didn’t sleep for 3days. So it’s back to ‘gabby’ for now?
Sandy
I have been taking “Gabby” or Neurontin for at least 10 years. Prescribed for Fibromyalgia. then spinal nerve damage.
At some point I had to make a decision to increase my dose, or drop it because it wasn’t helping much, if at all.
My Doc said there was no need to titrate off, he believed I would be in so much pain, I would probably choose to increase it.
Actually my pain level didn’t change at all……plus I was smart enough to go slowly in cutting back…..and eventually dropped it.
BUT….since then…..Ive developed a weak, shakey feeling, actually visual tremors.
Even worse, anxiety levels never experienced before.
I called my Doc…told him my symptoms plus my heretofore controlled Diabetes B/G #’s were highest ever 200+ to 300+.
His diagnoses? A new script for Actos.
Ha! Just read the side effects of that one!
So, right now , I’m sad, sick, sorry I EVER took Gabby or Neurontin. I’m also scared to take Diabetic meds……and scared not to!
Enough to drive me to take a tranquilizer…….just kidding……I think.
Good luck to next Gabby/Neurontin victim! You can have mine….for free.
Karen
IL
I took one 300mg capsule of gabapentin just before bedtime last night as prescribed by my doctor for nerve pain in my knee after knee replacement a few months ago. This is my first experience with this medication and I will never take it again. Wakefulness turned into restlessness, then became so jittery I had to get out of bed and walk around. But when I did this, I was dizzy and unsteady on my feet, so tried sitting and reading for a while; but even this was difficult. Finally fell asleep for a couple hours before morning. Twelve hours later, I’m still feeling light headed and restless. Glad to know I’m not the only one who had these side affects.
Jack
Ann Arbor Mi
I don’t think you need to worry so much. I use the drug for mood stabilization and to help me sleep. I’ve been doing this, and I disagree with almost everyone who is complaining. For my needs small doses are perfect. I take 1 300mg pill per day. Unbelievable results. I don’t feel that you should point the finger at Gabapentin for the problems you’ve listed. It’s really a great medicine. I’m not a doctor, but then most of them, and the “experts” writing this, have never used it. I have. Many years. Hope that helps.
Erin
NC
Taking gabapentin for neuropathy in feet for DM type 1. I have been taking it for three weeks. I take 600mg at bedtime only. I can sleep without waking in pain. Had a little dizziness right after taking and mild weight gain. Before this I had such bad nerve pain in my feet I was scared to walk due to pain. Work on my feet 8 to 9 hours a day, and the gabapentin is a God-send. I read side effects, and it scared me too. I do feel sleepy in morning until I get moving but nothing more extreme. Have suffered depression since childhood but gabapentin has not increased the depression. I think it helped in stopping the anxiety which kept me from falling asleep. Everyone is different, so each response is also different. Good luck to those in turmoil, God bless you, and heal the symptoms.
Maha
Egypt
Gabapentin was prescribed, one pill at night daily for pain relief. What about stopping Gabapentin abruptly after one pill because of suffering 4 fits of something like siezures during sleep? (N.B: still feeling anexiety and headache and muscle firing after 5 days ). How can a person stop it gradually after one capsule of 100mg? Does Gabapentin cause epilepsy? Can it activate the epileptic area of the brain?
Carol
Long Island, NY
I have had insomnia for years, ever since I can remember. I am 76 now and have slept like a baby for the last couple years. My doctor gave me Gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy in my legs, and it cured that. Still take a low dose because I was sleeping better than I ever had. I used to get in bed and have to put on the TV for about 2-3 hours and then finally fall asleep. I now take 600mg Gabapentin and put the TV on for 1/2 hour. In the a.m. I can’t remember what I was looking at because I fell asleep in under 5 minutes, and I sleep well. Maybe I will try to reduce the amount after I ask my doctor how to go about it. As long as I sleep well, I wouldn’t mind just taking 300mg or less.
Shannen
California
I just started this medication-my immediate thoughts are, I will discontinue gabapentin just as quick as I started taking it. I looked up side effects beforehand, there is no mention what so ever of headaches, thoughts of suicide, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain or mood swings. Now that I have researched and looked further into the public’s actual side effects, I will be ending this medication A.S.A.P.
Definitely not a wonder drug for me. I have not noticed any pain decrease, nor will I be increasing the dosage amount as prescribed/directed. I refuse to give the medication any more time to miraculously kick in. My back pain is unbearable as it is, I am experiencing one of the hardest struggles of my life. I sure as hell do not need a medication that weighs me down any further with depression any and adds more misery to my life.
So glad I read the comments, I feel horrible for everyone I am so sorry-I really appreciate the honesty from each story.
Kelly
TN
I was prescribed Gabapentin 300 mg to take 3X a day for nerve pain. My PCP did warn me a lot about the side effects and suggested to just take one a night for awhile to get used to it and see how much it bothers me. I’m really glad he was so honest about the drug- it has definitely helped the nerve pain, however I can only stand to take it at night. It took about a good few weeks to get used to some of the side effects when taking it at night, but now I do fine with it. I took it once during the day and I felt like a zombie. It was almost like an out of body experience, like I didn’t know what was going on and couldn’t get myself to listen to my brain. Very, very strange! I never could take the full dose, which is unfortunate because I think that would help me more…but it would definitely not be worth the side effects. I can’t believe people would be actually prescribed 2000+mg for just like headaches and insomnia!!
Dirk
AZ
I’ve been taking Gabapentin 1800mg per day for social anxiety. It is a wonder drug for me. My Doc says that I’m an exceptional case and wishes he could RX it for other patients in place of the benzos. It’s changed my life for the better. Talk with your Dr.
Donna
Lancaster, New York
After taking Gabapentin for 3 days I lost control of all muscles, bowel, bladder, ability to walk, and talk. Hospitalized for 4 days, having total amnesia about incident to this day. My mother had exactly the same thing happen when she was given Lyrica.
All women in family have mitochondrial disease, tested at Cleveland clinic. There must be a connection. Most physicians either don’t believe in mitochondrial diseases or most have no idea what it is about. Very difficult for all of us to have treatment for neuropathy, or fibromyalgia. Obviously our bodies react differently to certain drugs but doctors dismiss us when we reject new medications for fear of what may happen to us.
We are constantly being misdiagnosed. As a result, our quality of life is very poor, and it is frustrating not to be able to have trust in the medical community. When genetics are concerned the medical community is clueless. They are making some advances when it comes to identifying certain diseases through genetics but mitochondrial disease has been left out of the equation. Granddaughters are depriving themselves of becoming mothers knowing they most certainly pass this horrible condition on to a daughter.
Barbara
NJ
I was prescribed Gabapentin for nerve and arthritis severe pain. I was on the drug for 2 months and first developed a canker sore and irritated gums. I then developed a purplish rash on my thighs. I have been off the medicine for 2 months, and rash persists. Dermatologist ordered steroid cream a week ago and so far no improvement. The rash sometimes fades, and then it comes back. Any comments about this side effect?
Terry Graedon
Does the dermatologist know this rash started after taking gabapentin? This information could help with the diagnosis and treatment.
Myra
Mississippi
I also developed a purple rash on my left thigh. It looks like I have taken a bad fall. I am now trying to get off of this dangerous drug. I was put on it for sciatica and went from 100mg doses to 600mg x 3 per day. I am down to taking 300mg a day sometimes none a day if I can stand the anxiety that comes with withdrawals. I feel this medication has robbed me of at least a year of my life and seems like I have spent most of it in bed. Also, I have a bilateral bowel obstruction that I am having to deal with. Please DO NOT take this drug without doing research on the side effects.
Linda M
29307
I am taking a low dose, just 100 mg at night for neuropathy. It seems to be helping with the itching and burning at night and also the random sharp, shooting pains. I have lost six pounds in two weeks and have always had a hard time taking off weight.
I am at a normal weight for my height but now am wondering if I will keep losing weight. My appetite seems to be less than it was. I wanted to lose a few pounds so am not complaining but wonder if anyone else has lost weight. I can’t imagine taking the high doses that some are taking.
Claudia
Michigan
I have diabetic neuropathy. It is very painful to walk.. tried lyrica for over 2 years but had to keep raising the dosage. Side effects came on so slow that I didn’t realize the lyrica was causining it, till it nearly killed me …. I have found some relief with the burning and stinging in my feet when I try to sleep. For about 5years, I have been taking alpha lipoic acid.. 400mg 3 times a day. I only use “Doctors Best” I tried 3 other brands when I first started but they didn’t have any effect on me … so I have stuck with the one that works.
Martha
Ames, Iowa
Some are very favorable, but others are scary, am just going on it for back pain so hope
I will be able to withstand side effects I have taken it before for a short time with no ill
effects but since have a pacemaker inserted and don’t want to have any side effects.
Jean
San Francisco
I was prescribed gabapentin a few years ago for nerve pain associated with arthritis in my neck. My doctor told me to play around with the dosage to find what works for me. In the process I found that 300 mg every few days had so many unexpected benefits that I have ended up using it as a recreational drug. While it does help numb my pain, it also makes me super productive, interested in whatever I’m doing, relaxed and positive all at the same time.
Whether I need to stay awake or go to sleep, it helps. When falling asleep I’m entertained by interesting thoughts and images and wake refreshed. I do find I have a few unpleasant side effects but am mostly able to overcome them with yoga and a healthy diet and of course by limiting how often I take the drug.
As others have mentioned, It can cause a kind of emotional dullness, but in my case this has not been a bad thing. I would suggest that people avoid starting with a high dosage, especially to avoid the physical clumsiness and mental fogginess. Personally, I find it increases my mental acuity, and I have even learned to play the drums in my 50s while engaging in moderate use of this drug. It has also lessened my craving for alcohol.
Tina
Las Vegas, Nevada
I too have been taking 300 mgs 3 x per day for a long time. Mostly to combat extensively nerve damage especially in my legs. For the first few years I seemed to be ok. But lately I noticed that all the life has just drained out of me. I just don’t want to do anything any more. The worst part is the constant thinking of dying. I also take Sertraline for my depression but it’s not working. I lost my job of 13 years and that has really pushed me to the edge. I get dizzy a lot and when I stand I get a droning in my ears and feel like I am going to faint. I just feel like I am in a vicious cycle with no way out. Does it ever get better?
Kelly
TN
Usually medication doesn’t suddenly change how it effects you after taking it for years unless you change the dosage or your condition has changed. I would think it’s more plausible that the stress from losing your job (which, especially after having the job that long can really be traumatic!). You would be surprised how much stress can effect your body physically- especially if you already have problems with depression. Please talk to your doctor asap (if you haven’t already since this is an older comment). Suicidal thoughts are never something to take lightly, even if it could be from medication. I hope things turn around for you soon.
Darleen
Niagara falls
I have been using 200mg 3x a day for the past 16yrs for a thoracic surgery I had then. I also use 5mg roxycodone 3x . The gabapentin has done well for my pain as well as for lower back pain but the roxycodone helps with the tightness from the scar tissue. I am 67yrs. Once I took care of my mother and left the GABA at home. By morning I was terribly nauseated with dry heaves. Thought I had stomach flu. By 11 my boyfriend brought my GABA and within the hour I was normal and stayed that way. I do notice an upset stomach if I am late with my dose. I am fatigued with days of no desire to do anything and some days I do pretty good. Nausea I know is my biggest side effect.
Davosity
DC
I’ve been put on GP recently after a few other SSRI’s, SSRI’s, were unsatisfactory to me. My instructions are 900mg. am and pm. The stuff seems to access what other chemicals haven’t, but adjustment has been a bit tortuous at times. I have “very serious” COPD and strong anxiety and depression issues. I take 1.5mg Klonopin per day.
It’s great to find this thread!
Herschel
NV
REALLY, you expect people like myself who has suffered from the horrendous side effects of this drug to be civil. The FDA, having received so much political pressure, via the intense corruptive lobbying by pharmaceutical companies, has become so derelict in their obligatory duty not only to perform the due diligence before ever approving these disastrous drugs, but collude in the failure to disclose the proven negative effects and the corrective measures or treatments to protect the US public.
How much more inept, callous and corrupt can they become.
Tammy
Eugene
Have been on 300mg 3x a day for about a year now, for nerve pain in my arm. Had surgery for carpel and cubital syndrome a couple weeks ago. I stopped taking my Rx the day of surgery. While the paperwork that came with the drug said don’t I thought it would be okay since I had asked my Dr.s assistant to find out about me tapering off, he told me I didn’t have to and that I could just stop.
I don’t feel any huge withdraw symptoms but after reading here I do have occasional headache, frequent sudden urges to poop, and maybe night sweats. I did fall yesterday but am pretty sure I just tripped over a box in the garage. While it helped with my nerve pain: I hated the side effects: super moody, memory loss, morbid thoughts, an added benefit it got rid of my tinnitus…which is now back. I have been off for 2 weeks and wonder if I should check in with the Dr on it
T
Washington
My mother was put on gabapentin 2 years ago while in the hospital for chronic back and leg pain. Right away she developed an unsteady gait and jumping in her legs that she had not had before. It was decided to go to the Lyrica (4 X 25mg daily) because “some people respond better to it”. Things got even worse, with her hands and body twitching, both legs jumping, sleepiness, mental and physical agitation/fogginess and more with seemingly no relief in the pain. We were told it could take a little while to get better, but after 8 months of this, as caregiver daughter, I spoke with her physician, and we decided to take her off the medication and just deal with the pain and not all the side-effects.
What a “trip”! Literally! Hallucinations, suicidal, sick – sick – sick! It took over 6 months to get her down to 1 X 25mg per day, but we could never get her off that last pill! She was still twitching, and the jumping in her legs was getting worse. Recently we have had to change insurance and just could not afford the Lyrica, so decided to go back to the generic gabapentin and see what would happen. Wonderful!!! FIVE days off the Lyrica, and the twitching and jumping has virtually stopped. She says her whole body is “quieter and more restful,” and her pain level is not any worse. Maybe from here we can even get her off the gabapentin completely.
I have only personally known 3 other people who have taken Lyrica – for 3 different reasons, but all 3 have had very bad results. 2 were able to get off. 1 still has to take that 1 pill a day or is suicidal, which never was a problem before! I’m sure it must be a good thing for some people out there but I don’t know any of them! We did learn this: DO YOUR HOMEWORK before starting new meds if you can. We have opted out of several other controversial drugs since then and never been sorry. Please consider carefully the possible side effects before starting Lyrica/gabapentin. They are VERY real for some people!
Tessa
Almost 6 years ago, my husband suffered compartment syndrome due to a femural bypass. He had a fasciotomy that resulted in a muscle loss in that portion of his leg from the necrotic tissue having to be cut away, resulting in 7 more surgeries, permanent drop foot, loss of feeling in his leg from his knee down to his toes, weeks of rehabilitation, and plastic surgery to cover the muscle that was exposed on the exterior side of his leg. He’s been on 1800 mg of Gabapentin every day since for nerve pain, and last year was diagnosed with CLL. He’s also, in my opinion, suffering with brain fog, depression, and mood swings. Is all this just a coincidence, or is it from years of overusing Gagapentin? After reading this article, I’m now wondering, and scared half to death of what he could be facing because of this drug, though even if I showed this to him, he’d never give up taking it because it’s what gets him through each day dealing with the pain.
Catherine
Florida
I was prescribed Lyrica when I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I couldn’t handle the side effects (brain fog, balance issues) and the cost. My doctor switched me to gabapentin without really telling me about the side effects, just that it was a precursor drug to Lyrica. I wish I had known about the mood effects before I attempted suicide. I never put two and two together for a long time. I was given diazepam to counter the irritable moods gabapentin produced. This worked well until I had to go off the benzodiazepine. The terrible mood swings, the irritability, and angry outbursts are becoming unbearable. But, the pain from the fibromyalgia is controlled with gabapentin, so I do not know what to do.
T. S.
Ohio
I had a stroke seven and a half years ago and continued having headaches afterward. I was given Gabapentin in the hospital for those headaches which have since been diagnosed as migraines. I take 2400 mg every day. My family has told me that I am not the same since my stroke. I assumed the stroke changed my personality, but now I am thinking it is the gabapentin. I only take it as it has been prescribed, but now I am worried about it. I never feel like I get enough sleep either. I could go to bed at 7:00 pm and sleep until noon the next day and still not feel rested. I tell my husband daily that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Lauren
Chattanooga, TN
I was on 2700mg of Gabapentin and was tapered off too quickly. I ended up in the emergency room, suicidal. My brain was telling me things I had never thought before. This drug is horrible. I had rather be on opiates the rest of my life than this mood-altering drug. If you are prescribed Gabapentin, make sure you educate yourself; don’t just depend on your Doctor. A good pharmacist is a must if you are taking these types of drugs. Read everything you can. There is movement to change this drug to a “controlled substance.” BEWARE.
Melissa
KY
I have had it since March so less than a year I only take one 100mg pill at night sometimes two. It has helped my nerve pain alot. I will probably go to one pill a night than one pill every other night for a while. I don’t want to be hooked on anything. I am surprised that people take that much. My dr. said you only take what works for you and no more. Most of the time it is one 100mg pill a night.
Brianna
victoria, bc
I took Gabapentin off an on for a year. I would take 300mg once every couple of weeks or so. I was already a bit down, so when my depression started getting worse, I had no idea it was from the Gabapentin. My depression got so bad that I would break down sobbing for no reason other than the intense despair and sadness that was overwhelming me. So I started taking the Gabapentin more frequently because it greatly improved my mood.
The last week I took it, I took one 300mg pill about 4 times in one week. The last night I took it, I woke up the following morning with actual hardcore anhedonia, or completely dead inside emotionally. I was a zombie.
Normally when I would take Gabapentin at night, I would sleep better and wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and like myself, but not that night. I woke up dead. And then I also realized not only were my emotions dead, but my vagina and sex drive were too. Genital numbness, NO libido, and unable to orgasm. Before I was a very sexual person, with lots of passionate sex with my husband, and no problems with sensation or orgasm.
Not anymore. And I’ve been off the Gabapentin for 3 months now, and I think this sexual dysfunction side effect is permanent….which has ruined my life and taken the joy out of everything for me. My moods/emotions are mostly back to normal (and the depression is back to pre-Gabapentin levels), but my sex drive and ability to feel are gone.
I can’t live this way.
Diana
Nh
I was out on gabapenten for spinal pain.I told the Dr.I did not want to be put on any medication that is addicting.She said this medication was not addicting.I have been very vocal about this to both my primary Dr.and pain clinic Dr.Last year I was hospitalized for severe abdominal pain to the point I passed out.I had tried to stop taking the medication not knowing at the time it was the gabapenton.They said it was because I was constipation.I became so depressed because it caused so much worry in my family.
Just this holiday I became so busy I forgot to take my medication for a day and a half.I became very irritable,woke with a headace,then the following night could not sleep all nightI had vivid dreams,As I realized it was the medication I started taking it again.Then started researching gabapentin.
I was shocked.I have been having side effects all along.I couldn’t remember anything,my peripheral vision is effected,.I would wake up from sleep and couldn’t sleep after.
I am frustrated because I Have been lied too.I’m fearful of the withdraws now that I realize it is the drug.Exspeacily since I told the Doctors I didn’t want to be in anything addicting!I work with those with demtia I Feel Like I Have it tooand im Only59 Years Old.
Sue
Hickory, NC
My 86 year old father was prescribed Gabapentin for restless legs. We were in the ER this weekend with his blood pressure at 194/95, heart rate in the 90’s. EKG showed he was in atrial fibrillation. Now they are saying he has congestive heart failure. Anyone go into a-fib on this medicine?? He is confused, has blurred vision, balance issues, slurred speech. We noticed a quick decline after starting this medicine.
Martine
Anyone wanting to wean off this should keep in mind that there are ways you can reduce the withdrawal side affects. Here’s a great article https://drcarolyndean.com/2015/05/gabapentin-neurontin-withdrawal-with-magnesium/
Martine
Us
I know that gabapentin is not for everyone but while I had to come down from 600 to 400mg 3x a day, it is really good as an add on to my Paxil and buspirone. It helps with improved mood and Fibromyalgia. While I do understand caution for off label use, if it helps you and you don’t experience any negative side affects I see no reason to avoid it. I’ve tried other drugs with no effect.
Pam
Vermont
I’ve been on Gabapentin (1200 mg daily) since March of 2017 (8 months) for severe nerve damage in my leg following a total knee replacement. I’m a 69 year old woman. I’ve lost my appetite and have lost 30 pounds, my vision is now blurry, my stomach is upset, I have bouts of diarrhea and depression. I don’t feel like the person I used to be—active, intelligent, motivated. I’m a psychotherapist with a PhD and haven’t been able to practice. I’m a published author and can’t find the brain power to write or read. I’m seeing my doctor today. There has to be a way to deal with this nerve pain without taking a drug that changes you cognitively and emotionally, plus both physically for the better and for the worse.
Kel
Reno, NV
My gosh, I must be one of the luckiest Gabapentin users ever! I am so sorry to hear that so many folks have such issues with it. It’s been terrific for me. Thanks to a genetic chronic immune system disease, I have five different kinds of arthritis along with fibromyalgia, recurrent migraines, major depressive disorder, and insomnia (among other things, believe it or not!). Yeah, I’m a bit of a medical mess and live in constant, excruciating pain.
I take a laundry list of pharmaceuticals, to which Gabapentin was recently added for neuropathy in my cervical spine, and it incidentally turned out to help with my insomnia as well. I was prescribed 1,200mg/day but I only take 600mg at night. I discovered the insomnia assistance by taking the first morning dose and being drowsy all day, then sleeping through the night for the first time in two and a half years after taking it in combination with my 100mg of Trazodone (regular sleep prescription).
Now I just take the one 600mg dose at night and it’s been great. It also works just fine in conjunction with my anti-depressants Cymbalta (20mg, 2x/day) and Wellbutrin (150mg, 2x/day), which was a big concern because I’ve had suicidal ideation since I was a teenager.
After reading all these horror stories, I feel so fortunate to have had zero side effects whatsoever, especially with a) all my medical issues, and b) with all the medication I take. I searched this site because I was looking to find out whether people in AFib are able to use Gabapentin because I think my mom might benefit from its anti-insomnia properties. I didn’t realize there were so many basic potential pitfalls. I will still have her check with her cardiologist, though, and hopefully it’ll be a winner for her, too.
Hang in there, everybody! Keep fighting for, and taking care of, yourselves! <3
Michele
TX.
I’ve read some of the horrors of Gabapentin usage, but I wish to give my experience with it. Lyrica gave me the ‘lyrica flu’ every 3 days–high fever–103-104, hard chills, all-over, severe pain. Dr. switched me to Gabapentin. Nothing else, & I mean ‘nothing-else’ would quell the unbearable peripheral neuropathy in my feet & legs. It also helps me go to sleep. No flu symptoms either.
Roger
Anchorage
I have been on gabapentin (2700-3600mg) day for severe RLS and periferal neuropathy due to diabetes and a spinal injury, for several months. It has been quite helpful with few side effects except for some slightly swollen feet that may or may not be due to the drug. That said, with all the problems noted here I will certainly be on the lookout.
Eileen
Painesville, OH
I have been on 800 mg/day of Gabapentin since 2000 for nerve damage from two back surgeries. For years, I was tested to make sure I had no liver or organ damage. I have NEVER had any adverse side effects although, admittedly, I’m on a fairly low dosage. Perhaps I’m one of the lucky ones, but just wanted to let everyone know out there that this drug has been a God-send. Just wanted to throw out some positive feedback.
Jim
North Carolina
I too have just started taking 900 mg of gabapentin per day. I had so much burning in both legs from knees down to my big toe. Also, I have a lot of arthritis in my knees and back. I have had 3 back surgeries both knees surgery. I have been in pain for 43 years since my 1st back surgery. Over the years, every time I had an appointment with any Doctor, I would bring up the pain and burning in my legs. They all said, it nerve damage as a result of back surgery so I need to learn with the pain. I did for 43 years. The last two years was to the point, I started telling the Doctor, it was time to cut nerves for relief. I finally found a Great Doctor after examination and consultation prescribed gabapentin which is low dosage compared for a lot of folks. I must say after only taking two 300 mg (600 mg total). I told my wife, I think this Doctor has found a miracle for me, the burning was much less and even the feeling of tacks or needles in my heels much less than I was experiencing. This is only my 2nd day of taking this medicine and I am suffering less pain & discomfort in over 43 years to the point that if this is all the pain that I have the rest of my life is truly a miracle. I will without a doubt will know if I have any side effects within the next few days/weeks). I’m just trying this medicine to see if it would help me. TODAY IT TRULY HAS HELPED. ONLY HOPING BETTER RESULTS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I would encourage people who are suffering from arthritis to talk with their Doctor to try it in low dosage – I’m sure they will have great results.
I was told over the years by practically every Doctor who has examine me that my back was full of arthritis and they (the last three) ask me if it bothered me in doing my regular work routine. I was SHOCKED that they told me – I didn’t even know that I had arthritis. Two of the last three told me that they had never seen so much arthritis in one’s back as me. As I got older about two years ago, it let me know that I had arthritis to the point, my back shoulders, neck, pain so severe it traveled from my neck over the top of my head to my eyes. Could not even turn my neck even a half inch either direction.
I might add, due to having 3 back surgeries, I have suffered pain for years and I learn to live with pain but at times the pain would reach the point, that I could not think of anything other than the pain and had to get relief. The Doctors’ answer was DEMORAL, which was another miracle drug to get me relief and over the years it WORKED. Keep in mind, I do not recommend taking this every day. Only when I was in severe PAIN and only took it at the most one day, 2-3 times. (In a year, at the most that I ever took it (off and on) would be 50 tablets of 50 mg I got relief enough where I could tolerate the pain as a result of the surgeries
The second day of taking gabapentin, even my back and shoulders are not hurting where it dwell on my mind as it has been. As I said, I do not intend to be taking this medicine for life. I’m just trying it for perhaps a couple of weeks AT THE MOST!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR DOCTOR – THIS COULD BE THEIR MIRACLE DRUG TO GET RELIEF.
Alex
I have been on 3,600mg of gabapentin per day for a couple of years now, I can tell you it has completely changed my life, my thought process is so much slower and remembering things have been very hard for me, I met a man today that knew me very well and I can’t recall his name or where I know him from.
I have tried lowering my dosage on my own and can’t because the pain is too much if I don’t take them, I’m also taking tramacet for the pain on what the doctors have no idea what is wrong with me, I woke up with blisters one day on my legs and they pop and look like burn marks, this has reoccured and I’ve seen every specialist that you can think of, I’m 100% healthy as they say after multitudes of blood work, I thank God these marks are on my body or they’d think I was crazy!
I still live in pain every day but can’t manage to work if I don’t take these stupid pills, wow, how I wish I could go back to living a normal life but that obviously isn’t going to happen any time soon, I’m so Thankful for a Loving Wife and for her sticking by my side through this…, these pills suck.
Xan
NY
I recently read an article that states that a study shows Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica, its more potent version, prevent the formation of new brain synapses, and may have longer-term adverse effects on nerve health. I have been taking gabapentin for roughly two years for Trigeminal Neuralgia. It started as occasional numbness, but now alternates between a “mild sunburn sensation” and “Stabbed with a fork wired to a battery”. I am also in a constant fog and have even more memory troubles than I did two years ago. After reading the study, I’m convinced that this drug is responsible for worsening my condition.
Jim
NJ
I take Gaba only at night 2 hours before bed. I take it for restless leg syndrome. Only 600mg. Won’t go any higher. helps me sleep. I don’t have the issues some of you have. Must be the lower dosage.
hmz
ny
i gradually weaned myself off gabepentian without my drs knowledge. i was on it for just over a year at 18 mg per day. i could not take the fog, short temper, and lack of coordination any longer…neither could my family…i dont know what to do about my constant neuopathy pain now, but i’d rather be in pain i think
richard F.
Toledo, OH
I was prescribed gabapentin several months ago for numbness and tingling in my upper chest, head, and arms following chemotherapy for throat cancer at a dose increasing to 300 mg three or four times daily. At first it helped, but lately there is less effect, but the side effects have become unbearable. I have a severe tremor, loss of balance and incoordination, dry mouth, and insomnia. This is a terrible drug. I am now trying to taper off it, which is not easy because of withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, restlessness, etc.)
Judy F.
Kennewick Washington
I’ve been taking This medication for 3 months. 1 capsule 300mg at night. Sometimes I feel confused. My concentration is bad. I concerned when I drive because I do not focus. I’m going to talk to my doctor about changing medicine.
Maureen
Indiana
I have a neighbor who was ordered Gabapentin for neuropathy in her feet. She immediately noticed that a horrible fog come over her. She became depressed, unable to do much of anything. She couldn’t stand how it had taken her over. Yet the pain persisted so she went back to the ER and while there told the doctor about how horrible the medicine was making her feel. He told her “well, then just stop it”, so that is what she did. She only took the medicine for something like 2-4 weeks, but then stopped it abruptly (which I am reading should never be done), and now 2 weeks after stopping it, she is still like a zombie. Depressed, in a fog, unable to tend to any of what she used to do. She used to be a very active person, working in the yard, active in church, very outgoing. Now all of the life has gone out of her. She sits in her house and stares. Doesn’t open the curtains on her windows, doesn’t go out side, or to church. And to look in her eyes, it looks like there is no one inside anymore. What can we do to help her? Does this ever wear off? Is there any kind of treatment to reverse these affects? IF ANYONE HAS ANY ANSWERS, PLEASE HELP!
Ann
Arkansas
I HATE Gabapentin. And I can’t stop taking it. I was prescribed this horrid medication for Restless legs. 300 mg 2-3 times per day. My legs ache ache ache until I can barely walk. They hurt all the time. AND I have gained a ton of weight and cannot lose it. My doctor does not believe me even though he is well aware of the weight gain. I hate this drug and I HAVE to take it I will get tingling in my hands and my legs wiggle and jerk. I have weaned myself down to 300 mg. at night. I need help. It is ruining my walking and coordination. I have no quality of life. WHAT DO I DO. I NEED HELP. PLEASE DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A DUPLICATE COMMENT. PLEASE HELP ME.
Deb
Madison, WI
My husband was prescribed Gabapentin in May of 2014. He took it – just 1 pill for 3 days – for neuropathic pain in his legs – and it ruined his life! He woke up on the 3rd morning and could not walk – had to crawl to the bathroom – his memory was all messed up – and still is to this day!! – he is depressed, anxious, has bouts of EXTREME FATIGUE. He also has “episodes” that we’re still trying to figure out.
He just zones out, mumbles, stares, doesn’t remember anything, is super confused – like he’s in his own little world. On 1 day I had a husband that loved life, did NOT have any memory issues, loved to fish, read books, play X-Box games, loved being outdoors and 3 days later I had a husband that I did not even know anymore. It has ruined his life, my life, our lives. He has seen all kinds of doctors, had cat-scans, brain MRI’s, repeated EEG’s, blood tests, done chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, and nothing helps. Also, since taking the Gabapentin, now he can’t take hardly any other prescribed medications – he has the “severe” side effects if he does. It’s been a horrific 3+ years for us. We are 65 and 70 and couldn’t wait to be retired so that we could travel and now we just sit at home, go to appts, etc. etc. trying to figure out what happened to Dave……. I keep bringing up the fact that this ALL started on the 3rd day of that damn Gabapentin but the doctors all say that the affects wouldn’t still be going on today. I/WE DON’T have never agreed and after reading all of these other comments, for sure I am going to pursue this more!! Have any of you hired an attorney to help you? I truly feel for each and every one of you because I have seen in person the HORRIFIC side affects of this nasty drug.
Maggie
Hi Ann,
There arr other meds for restless leg. I don’t remember why they are, but my mom took one that worked.
This is not the only option for that condition. I’m not a doctor, but yours should be able to give you something else.
Marie Fuller
West Virginia
I have had neuropathy for several years and have been on gaperpentin for at least 5 years. I still work. I would not be working without it. You can not stand nerve without something. I wouldn’t take it but I have to. I am on my feet 12 hrs a day.
Sandra M.
Indiana
You could start taking yoga classes and meditating. Get massages, and eat healthy fruits and vegetables. Listen to hypnosis videos, and check out herbal remedies. Find a good alternative health care practioner or a chiropractor neurologist. With good self care and natural alternative methods you can get off it. I think yoga is a cure for every ailment. Find a teacher or research the internet. My prayers are with you.
Lynn B
Brandon suffokj
I’ve been on gapapentun for two yrs..at first was brilliant .thn suddenly it didn’t work I upped my tabs to 3 a day max I’m allowed which I take at night i gained weight neva slept brain fog tired all the time couldn’t concentrate .confusion speak properly very bad outbursts of rage and suicidal thoughts. I thought I was goin mad with all these symptoms my family and friends noticed a personality change in me and my nerves still jumping in fact I don’t no why I’m still on them…booked to see the doctor today to come off them hopefully I can get my life back on track..rather have pain that i will try to control thn no life at all. Long short what works for some dosnt work for others
Rob
NY
I have been taking Gabapentin for about a year, 600 mg, once in the evening, for restless leg syndrome, which had been keeping me awake for 2-3 hours almost every night. I have not experienced any side effects, but there are many nights that the drug does not work at all. I have been hoping to find a natural product that works, and may try the suggestion made by one or two posters, to take magnesium.
Lucy
USA
Some Natural Options:
Magnesium, Melatonin
Some prescription options:
Amitriptyline, Clonazapam et al
I highly recommend magnesium as the first option. It provides so many health benefits for entire body!
Martine
I wouldn’t recommend clonazapam for everyone as you could be trading one problem for another! I unintentionally became addicted to it and the withdrawal was horrific. Yes, it’s a great medication if used once in a while but if you don’t have a knowledgeable doctor you may start taking more than it was intended for with terrible results.
Anne
Kansas
Unless you have epilepsy, PLEASE do not take Gabapentin. I started taking it for neuropathy in my feet and legs after my GP ran every test available to see what was causing it. He concluded, after all the tests were normal, that it had to be some kind of nerve problem or damage and put me on Gabapentin. After three weeks, just taking 300 to 600 milligrams per day, I started having depression accompanied by thoughts of just not wanting to live any more. I knew immediately that something was wrong, however, I did not connect it to Gabapentin. I kept crying and feeling low. I thought that maybe I needed to see a psychiatrist and start an antidepressant. I couldn’t stop thinking about ending my life. Finally, I read that Gabapentin can cause these symptoms and stopped taking it…. but had to do so slowly. I am not having suicidal thoughts and I know Gabapentin caused those. I am not sure how or why it caused that it causes that to happen in the brain, but it did.
ShinglesSufferer
Don’t ever start taking Gabapentin. I wish I never had. Even if it helps you at first, it will destroy you later. The side effects are painful, but the withdrawals are excruciating. I cannot get off of it because I can’t stand the pain it has left behind. I started it when I had the shingles and continued for post herpetic neuralgia. After 6 months, I have severe pain in my legs, knees, feet and hands. I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and I can barely walk. At night, the pain is unbearable. This stuff is evil. It is the worst drug I have ever used and I wish I had read about it before I started taking it. I was so desperate for relief from the shingles that I would have tried anything. But I regret that decision. Because now, in addition to shingles pain, I also have neuropathy, heart palpitations, arthritis, blurred vision, insomnia, jerky eye movements, brain fog, extreme itching, and pain in all of my joints. I would have been better off just dealing with the shingles.
vickie
ohio
Anyone have low oxygen levels caused by gabapentin. I am 71yrs old. I have taken gabapentin for year for nerve damage. 100 mg 3x a day. Was having breast surgery. I did not take my meds before surgery but was given gabapentin 1 hour before surgery. I had nothing to eat for 24 hrs. I thought giving me this drug before surgery seemed strange because a side effect is low oxygen levels in 60 + females who take this for 6 months or longer.
In surgery I noticed I felt lightheaded but thought it was from pain med I was given .My surgery was halted when my oxygen dropped to 80 %.Doctors are saying they don’t think this was reason. I have talked to several people who had same problem. Anyone else have same issue?
Debbie B
49340
I’m 59 Years old and I feel the same way others do.I asked my Dr about how long I can take this for, said it can be taken for long term but it only seems to help if I take 300 MG’s every day. And I’ve been doing this since ,Oct of 2017. But they only last up to 10 days and I’m in another state right now and I’m try to weenie myself off them because I can’t stand the side effects.
Debbie
Carol
Raleigh, NC
I have been taking gabapentin, 100 mg twice a day for NB a week now for diabetic neuropathy. Bit has helped with the nerve pain but I’m very unbalanced and have trouble walking. I feel like I’m drunk an confused all the time.
I’ve also experienced diarrhea. I had trouble walking before beginning this medicine due to having had 5 prior strokes. I fall often but now it’s even worse and I may be forced to stop taking it. Do the side effects diminish with time?
Terry Graedon
In theory, the dizziness should get better over time. However, we recommend you talk with your doctor about it. You may need a dose adjustment.
Joanna
NV
I am a breast cancer survivor, chemotherapy, 33 radiation treatments, compression fracture 4th lumbar vertebrae, run over by a truck at age 9, and always had hip joint and back pain, was treated with cortisone during my teen years and anti-inflammatory drugs.
I never got addicted to opioids. I use physical therapy for a lot of relief, but the diabetic nerve pain just got to me to the point I couldn’t stand and was depressed a lot.
After several years of complaining of pain to my doctors, a nurse practitioner prescribed 100 mg of Gabapentin at night. I am not awakened by pain and cramps now. The pain is lessened enough that I can stand for more than 2 minutes and walk at least around the store.
JOHN
Carson, CA
I was diagnosed with Neuropathy. I have been on Gabapentin for one month now. First, 200mg at bedtime for 2 weeks. Then, up to 400mg now. After 2 weeks, I suffered a Gout flare up in 2 of my fingers. After taking my Gout meds, it usually takes about 3 days for all the pain and swelling to go away. This pain is NOT going away this time. My finger joints are really stiff and very painful. I just read that Arthritis is one of the side effects of Gabapentin. If Gabapentin is causing all this pain, swelling and stiffness, I need to stop taking this. I have a doctor appointment in a couple days. I will follow up and let you know. Has anyone experienced this?
Vicki
Wisconsin
I started out on 300mg at night before bed but after a few months it was no longer stopping the pain from neuropathy in my fett and legs. My doc upped the script to 300mg twice a day, then later upped to 3X per day then dosage upped to and then frequency upped. It seems my body needs more and more to relieve the pain. I DID ask my doc about this and in fact did see another doc about it and both said it was perfectly safe and I should stop reading “crap” on the internet. Well, I will be asking about the magnesium next.
Anyone know where you can get the best magnesium? I’ve read that some supplements actually have been found to have zero mg of it in their bottles. Who can you trust nowdays? Doctors DO get paid to push certain chemo drugs. My cousin is a Md. He said it is common practice at clinics to use meds like gabapentin but he also said it matters what other drugs and supplements you take. I think God put everything we need on the earth. If you can manage to eat right, exercise enough, and get your proper sleep then you stand a better chance of never having to use doctor prescribed drugs.
Just remember, those docs have lots of complaining patients. New docs go to the older docs for advice and that advice isn’t always best.
I was desperate to get some sleep…so I took the gabapentin and life was good temporarily and now its not and my dosage is 600mg 5X per day. I can’t drive, can’t walk, and can’t remember shit! If I could have a do over, I would not take the gabapentin. I am right back to the severe pain and the doc is not upping the doseage now and has no answers for me. Just a mess! Beware of this drug! Good luck people!
Kat
Virginia
I don’t have much experience with the Gabapentin because I just started on it for PLMD, and I am very leery of taking it with all of this information. I CAN tell you to go out and get CALM Magnesium. It is a powdered form that has effervescence in it.
It is THE BEST magnesium I have ever taken. The best flavor is either regular, lemon, or watermelon – but it can be hard to find the watermelon flavor – it’s not even on Amazon. I take a big dose before bed, and I relax so nicely. Best wishes! I am not going to take any more gabapentin and ask for klonapin which is also a hell of a drug that I don’t want to take but I need to sleep.
Pam
CA
Try ReMag for your magnesium. It is a liquid form that is 100% absorbed and does not cause the laxative effect. You can get it on Amazon. It is the best supplement out there.
Maggie
Vicki,
Labdoor is a web site where they publish their test results of vitamins and supplements. I don’t know who runs it so I don’t know how valid it is, but the ones I used tested pure and real. I always take Vitamin B with Magnesium to help with energy because Magnesium is slightly sedating.
Try labdoor though.
Maggie
Oh and there are two types of Magnesium supplements. One is a laxative and the other is the one you want. I can’t remember which is which, but I think Magnesium Oxide is the one I used to take for tension headaches.
Donna Tucker
Pawhuska ok
I had been in a severe car wreck years ago. Broke my back and had a rod put in my leg! In 2002 I got caught in the PTO of a tractor! Tore me up real bad! I was on 150 mg. of strong narcotics! New dr. took me off everything but 10 mg. of oxycontin and 300 mg. Of Gabapentin! After getting dope sick from no narcotics he put me on 1 a day then 2 a day, then 300 mg at night the next morning! It threw me into stroke-like symptoms. Went to hospital, and they flushed out a lot. I laid around around a few days and couldn’t talk right. I got up and had my granddaughter take me to the bank and store. When I was in the store I was getting the symptoms back and went back to a bigger hospital. They pulled more Gabapentin out of me. I got home unsteady and fell and knocked myself out, cut my arm and have 30 stitches in my arm! I’m very strong-minded and have overcome it but still shake!!! They should outlaw this medicine!!!
Gayle
12866
Horrible drug went off it suddenly and ended up in a mental hospital
Gay
Saratoga Springs
I was given this horror and wrote suicide notes to myself and did not remember doing it. This drug is poison I stopped taking it because I could not talk I didn’t have a stroke my family abandoned me because I was “crazy,” let’s sue the company that makes this nightmare.
I’m 64 years old with no mental problems.I ended up in a mental hospital, and guess what they didn’t believe the withdraw could do this. I couldn’t remember whoe days.
Gayle
Oh you don’t want to hear how bizarre this drug is and how DEADLY
Rg
California
Yes, gabapenton almost destroyed me after being on it for 3 months. I was prescribed it for anxiety. It took two months of withdrawl so severe that I had given up all hope and had to be hospitalized. Doctors are ignorant about this drug. It is lethal and it is passed out by doctors for everything. Withdrawl from gabapenton is pure hell..
Flynj
Sutter Creek, California
Hello I have been on Gabapentin, 100mg one at night. I have been experiencing dizziness, uncontrolled falling, plus other symptoms. I never thought it would be so dangerous, I was blaming my other meds for causing my symptoms. I was taking this for rls (restless leg syndrome). I should have really researched this seeings as I am a registered nurse. I am going to wean myself off.
S
Iowa
I am 39 and a mama of two girls. My whole life I was healthy, happy, normal. Then, when I was 37, I started having odd pains in my feet. The pain got so bad, I stopped walking. For the last two years, the pain has been unbearable. The doctors have not been able to diagnose why or help at all.
This May (2017), my doctor put me on Gabapentin. For the first few weeks, it was wonderful! My foot pain was greatly diminished and I was walking again, where before I was riding in a medical scooter. Then, a month after starting Gabapentin, I woke up one morning with HORRIBLE heart palpitations. I thought I was dying! I actually said goodbye to my family as my husband rushed me to the ER.
The ER doctor said it was normal and I was overreacting. (SERIOUSLY!?) He also informed me I was hypothyroid, even though I’ve never had symptoms of that before. I KNEW it was the Gabapentin giving me heart palps. So I quit. I tried doing it slowly, but the heart palps were so terrifying! I could hardly breathe. So, I just quit. For two weeks, I was sweating, heart racing, unable to breathe hardly at all! It was like in a movie when a drug addict can’t get their crack/heroin.
FINALLY, the effects seem to be going away. Praise GOD! But now the foot pain is back with a vengeance. :( Still, I will NEVER take Gabapentin again. I am convinced it caused a false reading of my hypothyroidism. And it DEFINITELY causes heart palpitations that made me feel like I was dying. I hope this review helps someone. If your doc prescribes Gabapentin, please be careful!
Lola
Boone, NC
I bet I know what your foot pain is…Have the doctors check for “Charcotes joint.” I went for 8 years with foot pain and that’s what I had! It is mostly found in Diabetics, but I have it and I am not diabetic! It’s worth a shot! If that is not it…plug your symptoms into the computer…it gives me a diagnosis every time and it has never missed!
Dawn
KY
I have been on Gabapentin for 2 years now. I have permanent nerve damage on my whole left side from shingles. I take 800mg 4 x a day= 3200 mg a day. I have noticed that I forget alot.
It’s hard to get my thoughts together. I do have a full time job that requires me to use my brain. I do find it hard, but I would rather deal with a few side effects than the constant severe pain I have dealt with.
Steph
Iowa
Update: i’m still experiencing side effects from gabapentin even though I quit over a month ago. I’ve spent the last week sitting in a chair with crazy heart rate and feeling like I have the flu. I had another trip to the emergency room this time for pain in my lower abdomen. I don’t know if that was related to the gabapentin. But I also have been having heart palpitations still. My whole body feels so wrong and sick. I believe gabapentin is poison!
tammy
arizons
I also am on Gabapentin, mine is for back pain. I have been on it a month and a half and so far no side effects. I am sleeping better than I have in years. I take 3 times a day 300 mg. So far so good, the first week I was groggy, but that is gone now!
Cheryl
Charlotte, NC
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for about 4 years for insomnia. Dosage is 600mg at night. It has been the only thing that has helped me sleep for more than 3-4 hours. I felt a little loopy the next morning but nothing I felt was bothersome. In the past 6 months (past month has been worse)I have developed dizziness, nausea, disorientation, inability to focus, etc. to the point that it has significantly affected my ability to function mentally at work. I thought side effects would be something that would happen upon initially taking the medication not after being on it for years.
Lucy
USA
Apparently, many of us thought the same thing, that it was a miracle… But months later, that is often NOT the case. I have to start weaning off of it, as I no longer am the vibrant, independent, smart, type A, confident person I used to be. I look at a task and then turn the other way. Dizziness, confusion, foggy thoughts, depression, flu like feelings, lethargy, faint, slurred words, difficulty concentrating (even when someone is speaking directly to me), sadness, despondency…and more.
And yes, the nerve pains have started to gradually return. I’ve been on gabapentin for 6 months 300mg 3x day=900mg. Since I complained of symptoms as stated, doctor says I can take all 900mg at bedtime “if it doesn’t make me too much of a zombie” (his words). That alone would be scary. But I do try to take at bedtime.
I’ve sideways had really good gums, but I now notice excessive bleeding. I gained weight. My eyes always look weird, unnatural. The nerve pain is awful, so I don’t know what I will do. My doctor said the only thing he could offer for nerve pain was Lyrica or Gabapentin. I have read that B vitamins help with nerve pain, so I will be increasing the amount of B vitamins I already take.
I also have taken magnesium for years for muscle pain, so I will continue to take that as well. If I could go back and not start Gabapentin, I would. After reading the comments here, I am very much apprehensive about the weaning off process. Best wishes for good health and prayers for all!
AMB
London,Ky
I’ve been on gabapentin for approximately 5-6 months for RLS (restless leg syndrome) & it seems to help sometimes (600 mg). But other times it’s worthless. I have a severe case of RLS & am desperate for help. I can be fine until I lay down. If I’m tired during the day it’s hard to keep my legs calm & usually have to stand up or walk around. I have no pain w/ this it’s just I have to jerk my knees constantly & sometimes my arms are affected. Looking @ all the comments I wonder if I should be on this at all.
Kate
Tucson AZ
I had been on Gabapentin for just over 3 years for severe fibromyalgia, and the side effects were terrible. At first it seemed to help with both the pain and the insomnia, but it was like a tolerance built up, and it took more and more of them to do anything; until finally I had a deep vein thrombosis from the drug. I was pretty alarmed, so I knew I had to go off them, cold turkey. No playing around with slowly weaning.
I searched and searched forum after forum, to find out what the withdrawal symptoms were, so I could work through this with knowledge of what to expect. It all sounded pretty scary, but the deep vein thrombosis was even more frightening, so my choice was an easy one.
In my searches, I found a few people that had taken magnesium to help with the withdrawal, so I got a bottle of the 500 mg magnesium capsules and went off the gabapentin completely. Right away, I told my doctor I had taken myself off the gabapentin, and that I was using magnesium. He agreed that magnesium is known as a muscle relaxent, but warned me not to take more than 500 mg in a day, or I would have diarrhea. Good call there, as I had not taken more than 500 mg yet. I never took more than that, and never felt I had to either.
I took the 500 mg of the magnesium half an hour before bed each night, and slept like a baby; better than the gabapentin had ever done for me. I felt absolutely none of the withdrawal effects, and before I knew it, I was completely off the gabapentin for months, and taking the magnesium only when I knew I was going to have a bad night. Kudos for the magnesium, and also to my doctor for agreeing with me, and giving me the heads up on overdosing on the magnesium.
So there ya go folks, take magnesium for your natural relief and help for getting off the gabapentin before it kills you. It’s natural, and It works! Simple as that! Let your doctor know though, before you try this on your own. Then, you will have an understanding professional that will be there for you, if you need them. I did, and I’m glad I did. I hate diarrhea. lol
Kevin
Saint Paul
Thanks for the post Kate. I have been taking gabapentin 300mg 3 times a day for anxiety for almost a year. Needless to say, the anxiety has slowly gotten worse. I would like to quit this drug and understand the risks of withdrawal and doctor’s seem to not want to you to discontinue. I will ask my doctor about taking Magnesium 500mg per day and see what his answer is. I am replying to your post since it gave me an option to quitting this drug. Thanks.
Carol
DFW
Magnesium is vital as most people are deficient. Depending on which type (there are many), you are nit likely to ever develop diarrhea. I take way more than that daily, never had a problem. I do not feel this is good advice as far as telling folks not to take over 500 mg. My opinion, but my M.D.’s also.
Dee
IN.
I take 800 mg of magnesium every night for leg cramps, have done this for 7 years, no diarrhea
Kristal
VA
I see where you were prescribed gabapentin for your RLS. I also used to have sever RLS that kept me up all night long. After going to a chiropractor and receiving 3 adjustments per week… after about 3 weeks, i noticed that my RLS went away along with my allergies. I then started reading and found that RLS can only be treated and corrected/prevented by a chiropractor. I would strongly recommend that you find a good one in your area and let them start adjustments! It makes a world of difference and eliminates many pains! You will be sore at first and everything seems to get worse initially— but then everything is much better! Hope this help and hope you can get off this crazy drug.
Stacey R
Colorado
Years ago after a traumatic experience in my personal life…my Doctor suggested gabapentine for short term use only
..it was very effective at that time i was also taking Lamictal, Wellbutrin Diazapam…
I am no longer taking these meds..the side affects were to numerous and started to effect my quality of life.
My personal experience has shown that diet, exercise and attitude are better alternatives…I pray for those suffering and I also pray for the souls running pharmaceutical companies!!
Ollie
May I ask how you hit off all the meds? Was it a tapering off all st the same time?
Julie
Texas
I can’t not tell you how grateful I am to have found this dialogue today. I was prescribed Gabapentin over a month ago after a 2-year-long constant pain battle after dislocating my tailbone. I was prescribed 1 pill for 1 week, 2 pills for 1 week, then 3 on-going. After the first week I KNEW I would not be able to take the pills during the day as prescribed because I was already dizzy and mush-brain and I was only taking the 1 pill at night so far.
I told my doctor that with my need for mental sharpness during my work-day, I had not increased the dose as prescribed. She told me to take 2 at night and then 3 at night on-going. OH MY WTH??? I have been having headaches, bizarre and unfocused thoughts, frightening vertigo, feelings of faint, garbled language and trouble bringing words to mind when needed. My husband appreciated the increased sex drive, but with a tailbone injury that can be…well, less that ideal! I have called my doc again and was considering just stopping the medication. I will NOT be doing that now, but I WILL start weening off immediately!
Ollie
Texas
May I ask how you got off all the meds?
Jac
Santa Fe, NM
Ollie, it may be a good idea to start taking activated charcoal. You can buy the tablets at most stores. It is used in all ER’s to absorb chemicals in the body, in such cases like overdose. It helped me ween off several meds a lot easier than it was with out using it. Remember, these medications that effect us neurologically are way more complex to ween off of. It also depends on what you are taking. Just slowly cut down, and if possible use cannabis with or without activated THC. Trust me, it helps tremendously.
Side note, I think it should be illegal for doctors to give out these meds like candy. Which most do. Every person metabolizes medications differently, and also if you make or female makes a big difference as women’s bodies break down chemicals differently. For some reason doctors think everyone should be on the same does.. microdosing is the way too start any medication. And no mental health or pain drug is mentioned to be taken long term… EVER! Even dam Xanax says to be taken short term 6 months or so) but doctors allow people to take this crap for years. Always remember, doctors and pharmaceuticals make a lot of money off of this crap, and easily sway the legalities.
Ann
Ottawa
I was so glad to find your article as I thought it was just me!!
I’m a 68 yr old lady, went to my GP last week for my reg. diabetic check up. I mentioned that I’m having such trouble sleeping, and she prescribed Gabapentin and reassured me that this would do the trick. I was to take 100mg at night for one week, then increase it to 200mg if I needed it. I was thrilled that I would finally get a good nights rest!
I took it first night at 10pm. At 4am I was still wide awake!!! It made me groggy and a def feeling of being drugged, but I couldn’t fall asleep! It felt like I had hit a wall and couldn’t cross it into sleep. Next night exactly the same thing! Around 4am I was finally able to fall asleep …
Today I was considering taking 200mg when I go to bed tonight, but googled Gabapentin and insomnia and found all kinds of stuff where others are finding the same thing on much higher doses then mine!
I will NOT be taking any more and will be returning to my doctor! Thank you everyone for posting your experiences.
Fred
Philadelphia
I am on Gabapentin for neuropathic pain from an old injury to my neck and shoulder area. A very bad injury causing three operations, a severed vocal chord and severe muscle and nerve damage to my neck and shoulder. These operations happened over 40 yrs ago, with no PT back then for anything, over the years it has become less and less bearable.
Anyway, I am on three 600mg 3x a day. I have dropped it down own my own to only twice a day, but it’s starting to bother me again to the pt where I may go back up again. My point is I have never been overweight in my entire life. Within a 6 month span I gained 20-25lbs. This is ridiculous. I am not eating any more than before I went on this crap, so what gives?
I have always stayed at a regular weight my for my age my whole life. So, don’t let anybody tell you that your appetite increases. Mine didn’t and still I gained this weight. What really is upsetting is the fact that this medicine really does help me with the nerve pain. I have never heard of giving this med for insomnia. Doesn’t sound kosher to me.
I think a valium: or generic of, would be the way to go with insomnia. Believe me, if doctors are squirmish about you getting enabled behind valium, what makes them think Gabapentin is any different?
Ann
Arkansas
I have been on Gabapentin for several years for restless legs. My dosage was 3 300mg. tablets per day. First it was two at night then my doctor said take one more during the day becuz my legs twitch a little. Well, I don’t notice that , BUT I HAVE GAINED SO MUCH WEIGHT. And my doctor does not believe me. So I almost HAVE to take one 300 mg at night so my legs don’t wiggle. It’s maddening. I CANNOT lose the weight. I’ve probably gained 60 pounds or 50 pounds over a period of time. I want off. I don’t have neuropathy, just restless legs.
There’s gotta be something else I can do. I read a post below that a girl said she started taking Magnesium 500 mg. a day and no more and it helped her get off the Gapapentin. I want to throw mine away. I hate this puffed up look. So what I have done is decrease from three pills to one and still have to two sometimes. when I take two, I can FEEL BLOATING. I HATE IT!!!
JUDY
I have been taking gabapentin and remeron for a long time for insomnia. I had a bottle of remeron on my desk (in the pharmaceutical white bottle) and ibprofin (in the same type of bottle). I was going away for a couple of days and dumped some remeron into the gabapentin bottle and left town.
The next morning, I awake in a state of acute anxiety and mental confusion. I had a small dogcare business and thought I was expecting a dog’s arrival at home. I called every customer and nobody was bringing their dog in. Every day I got worse. Day 5 I’m back home but had to stop driving because my driving was so erratic. Day 7 I couldn’t get out of bed. That’s when I discovered that I was NOT in fact taking remeron, I was taking ibuprofen. DO NOT TAKE GABAPENTIN WITH IBUPROFIN! THEY INTERACT!
Laura
AL
Gabapentin was given to me for nerve pain. It barely gave relief so up and up it went. I ended up at the hospital on the brink of suicide and I didn’t know why. I mean yes I have clinical depression but this was very very bad.
I was taken off and things got a lot better…. Later I did try to take it again at a low dose because the pain came back and thought maybe it was a fluke and they were wrong, I was the one wrong. Once I started on a downward spiral, I quit. And then I was fine.
Sherry
Been taking 300 mg ea night for insomnia..it works and I feel fine in morn. However, by afternoon I have brain fog and my evenings are short because of extreme fatigue….not sure if gabapentin is reason…
Jean
NC
I am having same complaints as you. Think its the Gabapentin. Feel lifeless, no energy., no desire to cook or eat foods that I have always eaten. Hope you get it resolved. It has to be tapered off. Good luck
Perry
Corlado, Denver.
I feel like a zombie most of the day, A drunk feeling, insomnia, constipation,
I lose things like my wallet. I find things in very strange places. My short term memory is hosed and I forget what i am doing, l lose track of time.
I’m going on disability. I have trouble spelling words using a keyboard, but I Feel very cocky, ambitious, like I rule the world. I find myself , just forgot was going type, I get things done quickly, And can operate a bicycle. My son says I act like I am on crack. I get bored easily, and have a restless feeling.
I am on a cocktail of lexapro, mirtizapine, and clonanzapam. I pace the floor quit a lot. When I watch movies I can not follow the plot. When I am on the phone I am not sure what they are saying.
Wanda
Grand Island, Nebraska
My doctor recently Rx’ed me Gaby 300mg 2xdaily for lumbar nerve pain. I suffer from severe depression and take Venlafaxine. I also have DID personality disorder. These 2 meds are contraindicated togeather. I currently feel manic and completely impulsive. I’m having rapid personality switches. And feeling crazy! I think this is a big mistake since my doctor did NOT take into account my Psych issues.
Brad
Nashville, TN
I have been on gabapentin 300mg for three weeks and it has helped me tremendously. I have degenerative disc disease with stenosis of the spinal cord in all lumbar vertebrae, stenosis at the L5 foramen and a history of a dislocation of my sacrum. For 10 years I resisted suggestions of taking gabapentin and opioids, but occasionally did ask for a muscle relaxer when I had an aggravation. This last time when the MD (a brilliant and sincere man) suggested I TRY gabapentin, I gave in. I am so glad I did!
Please note that this physician and the others suggested I TRY the drug to see how it worked for me. That means I must monitor it’s effects and use good judgement to determine if it is right for me.
BUT, when I returned home with the medication, before a single pill went into my mouth I was on the internet reading about this drug. Why? Because I didn’t give up my common sense, my free will over my actions, nor my responsibility for my own body just because someone gives me a medication to try. The Rx says every 8 hours, and I don’t doubt it could be more effective at minimizing the pain if I took it every 8 hours. But I only take it twice during the day because I want to minimize my body’s tolerance of the drug and the chance of interaction with other drugs while I sleep. That is my choice and my responsibility. If I were an unconscious patient and a MD gave me a med I might could say I was not responsible (but in truth when I go to a hospital I SUBMIT to their care and judgment). But I am conscious and responsible for my choices, my body and what I put into it. If I drink alcohol I am responsible for monitoring it’s effects on me. If I get drunk and drive, it is my responsibility not the person who sold me the alcohol or the car. The same principle applies here.
Through the years I have seen several physicians. They have all told me TRY this, TRY that. Generally I believe they all want to help and they gave their best advice about precautions, therapy, TRYING medication, and healing expectations for my condition.
However, as a living, breathing, thinking human being I am responsible for how I use the information and the medication the physicians entrust me with. I am also responsible for seeking additional information above and beyond what the MDs give me and educating myself about my own unique situation. That is done to fulfill my responsibility to care for my own body. That is also done to maximize my quality of life and productivity.
On my own I discovered that riding my bicycle is good for my back. On my own I discovered that doing pull-ups helps relieve pain and strengthens my back muscles without putting stress on my spine. I came up with exercises which when combined with the exercises the medical system gave me gives me the best result. I just have to be disciplined enough to do them and be aware of my body and what it tries to tell me. And I have to be smart enough to minimize risk of future aggravation. If we are not careful it can be easy when our pain is reduced to do something to aggravate chronic conditions.
If a drug manufacturer misrepresents and hides information about harmful effects of a drug then that is unethical and criminal. If a physician gives you a Rx to try a drug, then he is not responsible if you become tolerant or addicted, or if it is not even helpful. Additionally, It is not a giant leap in logic to think that if a drug is cleared by the FDA (meaning there were double blind studies that substantiated this application) for use of shingles-related neuropathy, that it might also work for neuropathy of other causes. Neuropathy can have many causes and many characteristics. To require double blind studies for all applications of neuropathy would not only be ridiculous, but it would make medications even more expensive.
Currently there is what is being called an “Opioid Epidemic” in the US. Why is that? Several factors. Yes, drug manufacturers have some responsibility to accurately research and represent their drugs, but only through use of a drug overs years can data be collected about it’s “true” effects. Yes, MDs have responsibility to judiciously prescribe and teach how to use opioids and as well as other meds. But an MD cannot feel your pain and he should not require you to be convulsed in spasms before he prescribes pain medication. Patients report pain based on their perception and their attitudes about pain. MDs prescribe meds based on the patient’s report and other symptoms. He became an MD to help people, so he prescribes the pain medicine as best as he is able to help the person in front of him.
But the ultimate reason there is an opioid epidemic is that patient’s are not being responsible in the use of the medications. They don’t pay attention to the physicians or the pharmacist’s instructions about the medication. They don’t pay attention to the written information that comes with their drugs, but they follow their feelings. They don’t pay attention to time and take it too frequently. They don’t use caution with multiple drugs and end up with interactions. They don’t think, hmmm perhaps if this medication feels so good I could become tolerant or addicted (whether physically or psychologically). They don’t pay attention to what their bodies are saying and end up in a medication induced state that threatens to take their life or rob them of a rewarding and productive future.
Who said we are not supposed to feel pain anyway? Didn’t we learn as children that it is part of life? When my son fell and skinned his knee and cried, I cleaned the wound, put a bandaide on it and comforted him with words and hugs and maybe an ice pop. I tried to distract him from the pain with a game, VCR, or reading a book to him. I did not give him pain medicine. He got through those events and but hopefully the pattern and the lesson he will retain.
Through experiences like this children learn some things: We will experience hurts and pain in life, but we will get through it. Take care of the wound which is the source of the pain and protect it to facilitate its healing. If we don’t focus on the pain, it will not seem so big or consume us. If we do focus on the pain it seems like all that there is. So we focus on something else to help us get through it. Interacting with other people helps to take our mind off our pain.
Somewhere along the way people experience events and conditions which include pain. Somehow that pain becomes very big in their lives. They reach for the easiest and fastest remedy that will relieve their pain. Some people decide they should not have to feel pain. Maybe they develop a fear of pain. They allow the pain to become their focus. Each day of their life is spent trying to ease the pain.
Now there is a growing backlash to the “Opioid Epidemic” which threatens to limit the ability of physicians to judiciously help patients with genuine pain issues. It threatens to take away medications from patients who can responsibly use medications. It threatens to lower the bar of access to the level of responsibility of those who refuse to be responsible for their own actions.
If I am able to use drugs responsibly and I do, I should have reasonable access to them. If other people refuse to accept their responsibility I should not be denied access to a drug because of them. Furthermore, while drug manufacturers should be held responsible for deliberately misrepresenting drugs and physicians for cases of recklessly improper prescribing of drugs, neither should be held responsible for the irresponsibility and poor choices of patients.
Electricity is a wonderful thing. It enriches the lives of people the world over. But if you don’t respect electricity it can kill you! If you mix electricity and water it can kill you! If that happens it is not the fault of the power utility. You have to apply common sense and use it safely.
The same is true with gabapentin, opioids or any other drug. The same is even true for food and nutritional supplements. It is the same with cars. It is the same with alcohol. The list goes on.
Educate yourself. Be responsible. Be active it can reduce pain. Develop an informed medication schedule that works for you. Put it in writing. Follow the schedule. Plan for success. Succeed. No one can do it for you. As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
Lauren
Hollywood, Fl
Hi Brad, can’t tell you how happy I was reading of your views on the use of gabapentin—-I too was right on the net researching all I could before taking. And I totally agree that you have to be proactive when given any prescription. I was given 100mg 3times a day for nerve endings in my back side and thigh believed to be damage from chemo treatments.
And I’m very happy the burning and pain is gone in the first try. I’m amazed at the abuse and Higher doses—-not something for me. Feeling even this small relief after 8 months of ice packs and chiropractors is the step forward I needed.
Will follow this week with light excericise increasing as I can. Thank you again for your different perspective and expertise in getting the “responsibility point” across. Hope to talk more. Thanks again.
Carol
North Carolina
Brad, I’ve thought like you that responsible use of opioids won’t lead to addiction. A friend recently told me that she did get addicted after using oxycodone as prescribed after an accident that crushed her pelvis and broke her shoulder. She was very conscious of the danger; the dosage did not relieve the pain, just made it tolerable; she did not take more the prescribed or take it more often, even by a few minutes.
Nevertheless, when the pain lessened and she reduced the dosage even by a little, she started having withdrawal symptoms. She ended up quitting cold-turkey. enduring all the misery you’d expect.
Maggie
Carol, that doesn’t mean she was addicted, as in a drug addict. Many drugs cause withdrawals when ceased. That is a physical dependence. An addiction is continuing to use despite negative consequences. Abusing a drug by overuse or using it for something it’s not intended for, etc. Having withdrawals doesn’t mean someone is a drug addict.
Wendy
WA
Brad,
Thanks so much for your post. I have taken Pharmacology classes and dealt with this drug as a few family members were prescribed it. I am now a home caregiver for elderly clients. You would be shocked and sickened by how many older people are being prescribed this drug at extremely high doses. They probably have most of the “fall risk, and memory problems” assessments due to this medication!! I always mention this in my notes and warn family members of this. Someone needs to advocate for them since most don’the know how to use Google or even know what mess they take.
Terry
Indiana
Brad,
thanks for your imput on how responsible you are and we need more responsible people like you in the world. However, for whatever reasons some people do not search the internet or view it necessary to even veiw it if they really trust their doctor, especially the elderlies in our society those who aren’t computer savvy perhaps. I like reading the reviews because they give a wealth of information on the symtoms they have had while on medications and some have information, as you may have read in this blog, of solutions of how to actually get off of meds that causes problems like gabapentin.
I really respect any blogger that can come on and pour out their experience so that the next person will now have a pool as to rather or not to take the meds. You know, sort of like you, the doctor gives you a medication you don’t know much about and then you come on and see what is being said about it, right!
I sorry but I got the impression like you were putting down the people who shared their negative experience as if they should have known better but just like you isn’t this where you got your information. Please calm it down about how wise you are so that others will not be ashame or feel ashame to continue to share their information, sir.
Terry
Brad,
Actually, the reason I started to read this blog is because there are two women I visit frequently in the nursing home who use Gabapentin can not walk any more, both uses pamper, both have tremblings to the point on can barely feed herself and the other cannot feed herself, both women has been diagnosis with heart problems, one a heart attack and the other had to be resuscitated three times in one night. Sad isn’t it, and yet another thing both women had been on gabapentin for several years and both women are unable to use the computers due to their age. They both are aging women and have probably never learned to use a computer.
However, I stayed up all night because this huanted me, I needed to know why this medication is given to so many people. As a matter of fact, I have just lost an aunt who was also on this meds for years prior to death and she also had the some of the same symptoms as these women including being unable to walk for over a year before dying.
I visited my uncle recently in California and he and his daughter is taking the same meds. I know for sure my cousin who is in her early fifties as myself was rush to the hospitlal less than a year ago with heart issues and had to have surgery immediately upon arrival.
Enough is enough, how many people must die. This is what happens when peole value gluttoness over the value of human being. The wealthy get wealtier, the rich gets richer and life becomes undervalued. We all want to think our doctors will choose life of money but that’s not true in most situations. It like a high to some people the more money they make the more they want. The only One I put my trust in is Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
In 2012 more than 50 million prescriptions were being written and now this is the most common written drug in the United States. Male rats were shown to have develop cancer of the pancreas while given this durg but the drug company says it to expensive to research on human. Would not you like to think that your life meant more than money to this industry but in reality it doesn’t…Sad
Vi
Canada
Brad, it disturbs me greatly that you have so vehemently defended this drug after only 3 weeks on it. You sound suspiciously like a Pharma shill. Come back and talk to us when the side effects have had time to kick in, as you’re still in the honeymoon phase.
Tammi
Idaho
VI Canada:
Thank you so much so saying precisely what I was thinking. Methinks Brad doth protest too much and rant on about personal responsibility… Pharma shill – exactly. We go to our doctors for help because we expect them to have the proper education about our medications, including knowing what other medications we are already taking and being aware of potential interactions. Not everyone has the ability to either search the web or understand the info sheets from the pharmacy. Not all pharmacists take the time to have these sorts of discussions with patients, either.
Drug companies, doctors, and pharmacists MUST be held accountable for these horrible drugs with horrible side-effects and horrible withdrawal symptoms. It is their JOB to make sure patients get the proper medication and information. That’s what we pay them for! Not all patients (or family members) have the ability to make informed decisions, not because they are unconscious, but because they don’t and can’t understand the potential problems because they don’t understand the terms used.
David
Brad,
Think about the millions of people in aged care homes that have no choice or brain left to make distinctions on their own.
I pray you decide to stop taking this drug. It can take 6 months or more before feeling side effects.
I believe it is poison for everyone! No exceptions – my opinion from personal experience plus lots of research and personal responsibility.
Rick
California
I was prescribed gabapentin, 3600 mg/day as part of a botched detox for trazodone dependence. Long story short, I am now fully dependent on increasing doses of gabapentin, will probably have to go to the hospital to be detoxed this time. This is a dangerous drug with significant potential for severe dependence.
Sigmund
It spiked my libido at 150 mg, 3x per day. Then all went back to normal. When my doctor increased my dose I experienced the same thing. My thoughts were a bit jumbled and I got spacey.
JMFS
132 lb female, 325 mg 2 x day for cervical spondylosis / stenosis. I was taking it with Vicodin for a week, but that made me far too stupid. I thought it was the Vicodin; however, I’m now of the thought it’s the Gabapentin. I’m also on a tapering dose of dexamethasone to reduce inflammation. 8 mg one week, 6 mg last week, 4 mg starting tomorrow.
The spasms I was experiencing prior to taking the medications have now subsided and only crop up when I get stressed out. 10 hours after taking the meds I start to feel lucid again so I get about 2 hours of clarity. 30 minutes after taking them I can feel the fuzz swooping in. My forehead starts to kind of buzz. Concentration is difficult, nothing tastes right – I can only really detect temperature (lemonade tastes like cleaner, cinnamon doesn’t register as a flavor, that sort of thing – it’s like chewing on texture and temperature). I’m chewing my cheeks and lips like mad as well as drinking larger than usual quantities of water. Mainly it’s the concentration that’s bothering me because I have to be able to think logically, but instead I feel fragmented. I feel dumb, but I know it’s the fog from the drug and keep reminding myself of that.
I see my doc on Wednesday and will be asking to reduce the dosage so I can balance the pain with being able to function normally until I can get to my next step. Everyone asking for advice here needs to pick up the phone and call their doctor. This is not a place for help, only information. If the current doc isn’t getting answers, get a second opinion and tell him Every other drug you’re on so they can get it right. Some of the dosages I’m seeing on here for the conditions make me wonder how some of y’all function! There has to be a better alternative for many of these conditions, but remember that it’s going to take Time for the medicine to get out of your body. Especially for those on the 1,000+ dosages, wow!
Brad
Of the drugs you listed, Steroids make me the most scattered/very jittery and they make my mouth VERY dry. Hydrocodone does give me a bit of a dry mouth and does slow my reaction time but I can still function ok. After 3 weeks now of taking the gabapentin 300mg twice daily it hasn’t caused me to have dry mouth nor has it prevented me from functioning.
I have worked a very busy and mentally, emotionally and physically demanding job. I would note that I normally stay well hydrated so it’s an ingrained habit. I feel like it may be giving me a slight bit of emotional insulation from stress tho. I think for you to peg your symptoms on gabapentin when you are taking all three drugs and when the other two drugs are known to cause the Sx you said is not reasonable. There is no “do not operate machinery or drive” warning that comes with gabapentin; there is with Hydrocodone. Yet I know we each have our own unique biology and metabolism.
Dan
Wisconsin
As a long term high dose gabapentin user for fibromyalgia, bipolar, and neuropathy I suffered withdrawal syndrome by trying to drop the dose too fast. The key is to have sufficient supply and the means to titrate dosage by no more than 100 mg per week. Fortunately, gabapentin literally flows right through you unchanged without the liver. You don’t have to be hyper accurate with the dosage reduction. Cut the pill in sections and use the powder and chunks if you have to get the dosage needed. BE PATIENT! You CAN get off relatively quickly and easily if you are patient and can stick to the titration schedule. If you take it for seizures you could have one if you do not have another medication in your body to control them. Tell your doctor what/how you are doing. If you experience problems simply go back up in dosage temporarily. Taking it again relieves it.
Amber
Ga
Brad,
You said there’s no “Do not operate heavy machinery” warning on the bottle. Yet I’m looking at my bottle and it says just that! Along with a few other warnings!
misty
USA
I have just been prescribed Gaba 300, 3x a day. My bottle also has that warning along with others. I took it for three days. One pill a day at night. It made me loopy and mean. It also gave me feelings verging on panic.
I am a calm person. I am not very moody. My Husband turned me onto this web page after he read it.
He knew I was not myself while taking this drug. He thought it could be the drug. He was right.
Also if you read enough about the opioid crisis you will find that it is not the people who are prescribed opioids that are OD’ing. It is mostly people who are taking street drugs that they think are heroin but they are actually taking heroin that is laced with fentanyl or is simply pure fentanyl.
Marco
usa
I was prescribed Gabapentin for Shingles relief 3 times a day. I took that and it really helped the pain. I change to 2 a day within 4 days and 1 at night now for a week. The day before yesterday I was not going to take it, but I could not sleep and my feet would jerk, so I took it. Today is 5am and I did not sleep at all last night because of sleepless and jerky moves on my leg. I think I am done taking it.
Shay
Utah
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for 3 years now. I started for the nerve pain in my back from several slipped discs and a protrusion. I take 300mg 3X a day. I’ve never experienced any of these side effects that others are stating they’ve had. It works great for me and I’ve found it even helps with my anxiety. I was also told that this medication does not interfere with other meds and is safe to take. So far, so good!
protectNserve
Utah
Shay,
I’m so glad that you are getting relief. Please beware the long-term consequences. Hopefully you are not one of the majority that are having these awful side effects. It looks as though some time has actually passed. How are you getting on now by chance?
Did you happen to injure your back due to painting or construction?
I had been taking Gabapentin for 8 months 1000 mg per day also for back problems/nerve pain. I’ve always been very slender with and athletic build. Sadly, I have rapidly gained 45 lbs. of weight within a short amount of time!! I did not eat more, and was not even hungry. My ankles, legs, and face were swelling- even though I work out often. I have super long blonde hair, and it started falling out! It is seriously 1/2 the thickness that it was 8 mos. ago. The consistency is baby fine with so much static. It tangles easily as well..Can’t stand it!
Also: the loopiness, and forgetting where I have placed things was in full swing.
In addition, I became very shaky which is not good in my profession. Extreme fatigue, yet a sense of euphoria. As I’ve read from other’s here, my eyes started appearing, “Wrong” – as though I were high on serious drugs (which GABA turns out to seem these days), and I’ve been having suicidal thoughts which I NEVER have. Scary.
I have been tapering off of Gabapentin, but it’s been rough! I have started magnesium supplements. Hopefully it helps. No weight lost yet..in spite of taking the highest dose of Phentermine which I do not take lightly! My Dr. did not believe that the weight gain or hair loss were from GABA. I beg to differ. Hopefully someone gets some helpful information out of this.
Carol
NC
I have been on Gabapentin for 7 years,(800 mg 3x’s day. I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Had the surgery on both hands. My hands are so much worse, can’t stand it. I drop things. I don’t have strength, but I am so tired all the time and don’t want to do anything. What should I do. I’m scared.
Bill
Montana
I have been on gabapentin for years — 4200 mg a day all of a sudden after that one inch back surgery my legs from top to bottom feel like rubber— Any kind of exertion puts me in my recliner. I feel so weak like some bug has bit me. Took all kinds of tests on my blood, stress tests etc. Nothing. Anybody got an idea?
Hanna
NJ
I have only taken gabapentin 100mg. at bedtime for 10 days and already I am so lightheaded I am nervous to drive. I have to be very careful walking and moving around as I loose balance easily. I was prescribed this med to get off of klonepin for restless leg syndrome.
I was on that for about 6 years and weaned off slowly. I never had any problems with it. Now, I am going back. I was on very low dose, 0.5mg but had gone up to 2mg over the years and was afraid of the increase. Not so much after the gabapentin.
susan
West Glamorgan
I have took gabapentin for around a year as i have a servere back problem which caused sciatica and which caused me to have to use a wheelchair…I take a 600 and a 300mg tablet every 4 hours…but coming up to or if I am a little late in taking them I perspire realy badly…it just runs off me.
My hair neck arms are wet…at first I thought my menopause was the cause but as I am 64 I have come to realize its the tablets, I don’t want my sciatica to come back but I would like to try and wean myself off of these, but to be honest, I do not trust my doctor.
And would welcome any advice given, I also did not realy understand how strong these are and what the side affects were.
Gabriel
Northern California
Have been reading these comments and others on the internet since taking Gabapentin prescribed for carpal tunnel pain. I took 300 mg once a day, increased to twice a day. Made me very sleepy which was great at first because I was not sleeping well. After about a week I had insomnia and memory loss. Was told it was fine to increase my dose by two specialists I saw. “No problem…patients take a lot more of this drug.”
Being concerned with how I was feeling (I only take a small amount of Synthroid …no drugs or alcohol) I stopped taking the Gabapentin and within one night of not taking it I woke up with severe dizziness and I was unable to get out of bed and walk. My throat was so dry and I had to crawl into the kitchen, ended up on the floor where I remained unconscious until my little dog woke me up.
I couldn’t even text a message for help and was sure I was going to die. Withdrawals followed…didn’t want to eat, couldn’t sleep, depression and crying. Generally feeling not like myself at all. This went on for more than 4 weeks. This is, in my opinion, a very dangerous drug that is prescribed ”off label” for all sorts of things. It is addictive and not harmless as a lot of doctors are leading patients to believe.
It should be ”scheduled” in my opinion and with all of the comments I have read, along with my personal experience I believe that there should be some legal action.
matt
texas
My wife has been on 600mg of gaba for 3 or more years. the changes in her moods, thoughts and actions have scared me and my children. Her laugh changing was the first thing we all noticed, then she quit being a RN saying she was burned out, but had before drug worked 25 years with a great attitude and spirit for nursing.
She then tried to become a realtor yet did not crack the text books for a year saying she could not “get going”. All in all the symptoms all previous commenters have stated on the reaction to this drug is true. My family does not recognize the person my wife is becoming and there is no end in sight>
Jean
FL
I started taking Gabapentin, 300 mg, for fibromyalgia, which did nothing. So my doctor told me it was a minimal does, and I should start taking 3 caps 3 times a day. I started gradually and was taking 700 mg per day. Now Notice that if I sit or lie down to watch TV, even for 10 minutes, when I get up my body aches so badly that I can hardly move. I’m better at work, but weekends are killer. My body has never ached as much as it does now, and the only thing I can think of is that it is the Gabapenin. Has anyone else experienced this????
Judy
NY
Yes body aches are a known side effect of the gabapentin, and I experienced them myself which is one of the reasons I decided to go off – will share rest of my experience in a separate post.
Anna
Florida
I was just prescribed Gabapentin for my Osteoarthritis, 100mg per day to start, and I’m supposed to up my dosage to 4mg a day in two weeks. I took 1 pill 2 hours before I went to bed, woke up feeling like I was completely drugged. It took 2 hours for me to wake up…I tried again last night and took it even earlier and after 8-9 full hours of sleep I was still having a very hard time waking up and felt very groggy once again for hours. I don’t see how I’m ever going to get to 4 pills a day and after reading all the side effects, I don’t see how I could stay on this. I don’t like taking meds, and if arthritis is a side effect to my arthritis, I don’t see the point.
Greg
SF Bay area
I took 3600mg Gabapentin for nerve pain associated with diabetes per day and found that it had no effect on larger doses so i dropped the dosage to 300mb twice daily instead of weaning off of it, i was hit with major depression.
Since I’ve been using this for 11 months, I’ve got arthritis in my hands, knees, ankles, and arms. I know Gabapentin is the cause for this but i’m reluctant on stopping this med because of nerve burning pain.
Nathan
Wichita
I was prescribed Gabapentin as a pain reliever for my hip pain and nerve pain shooting down my leg. My L4 and L5 vertebrae have degenerative discs, one is herniated, so the pain is incredible.
I took my first dose today. I work in IT, I need my ability to focus for extended periods of time or I could bring my company to it’s knees with bad decisions and horrible trains of thought. As I type this, my vision is blurred, vertigo makes it hard to sit up and I don’t have the ability to do half of my job. I’m going to have to go home. Which sucks the big one.
Stay away from this. Even the hardcore painkillers are easier to deal with than this. Never again. I’ve taken one dose, I’m cutting it off, no weaning, I don’t think I’m dependent on it at this point. Wish me luck.
Lucia
NJ
I just had my dose increased to 400mg 3x a day. My MD prescribed it for Fibromyalgia pain. It really did work and I’m terrified to think about what I would do if I ever had to go off. The pain I had before left me in a zombie state of mind. I could barely move. The pain was so unbearable I would just sit in a vegetative state thinking the same repetitive thoughts: “my hands hurt, my legs hurt, my elbows hurt…my hands hurt, my neck hurts, my legs hurt, my elbows hurt…my hands hurt, my sides hurt, my neck hurts, my legs hurt, my elbows hurt” and I would stay stuck in this repetitive, vegetative state aching so badly I could not move.
At least now with gabbapentin I hobble around & do things. But I did wonder if this horrible body rash that I have developed might be from the increase in my dose 300mg more a day). Its been two months since my doc increased me. I use to take 300mg 3x a day. Tbh, I actually returned to her a month later and asked her to increase it more since I am still not out of a flare & still in so much pain. She refused.
I don’t actually want to increase but my life has been miserable from the pain & I can’t do what I was just able to do a year ago.I don’t want to go on more meds but truly don’t know what other alternative there is for me. When I came to my doctor I was almost suicidal from the pain. Now I no longer feel that way. Maybe gabbapentin has so many side effects but for some it is a drug that has allowed me to get back some living
Jean
Houston
My diagnosis is apparently a pinched nerve and while I am waiting for further information regarding treatment, my doctor has put me on gabapentin to try to reduce my tingling and “sleeping” left leg. The gabapentin has already produced some side effects even at a low dosage. 300mg three times a day. So far they only consist of slight balance problems. My symptoms are so difficult to ignore. Without gabapentin I’m not sure I could tolerate them. I guess this is a positive statement for gabapentin, but I am concerned about what the future holds. My doctor said I could increase to 600 mg four times a day gradually. Seems really high dose.
Mary
Maryland
I have been on gabapentin for 18 years (1800 mg daily)for neuropathy starting with chemo drugs and now for back problems. I have not experienced any of these side effects and need the relief that this drug gives me!
Mishayla
Elmendorf, Texas
I got my prescription for Gabapentin from a podiatrist, around 2 years ago. He originally gave me capsules for 200mgs, wanting the pills to last longer and the dose to remain the same, I asked for 400 mg pills instead, to be divided in half. I sometimes have pain in one particular spot on my foot, which feels like 3 bee stings, unrelenting pain ! I get out of bed and drop one of the pills @ 400mgs, not giving a hoot about the side effects at the time, just wanting a good night’s sleep (they work for me just like a strong sleeping pill) reading about the horrendous side effects on this site is scaring the living daylights out of me !! where do I go to find relief from the pain ? I haven’t drank since 1970, and my PCP is being such a weasel about giving me any kind of sleeping pill, that I’m almost to the point of buying them off the street. (have never done that, only speculated so far) any suggestions about my situation will be appreciated tremendously .
Miguel
Vermont
I was in a severe train accident in 2011 and Gabapentin was one of the medications prescribed for the nerve damage and neuropathy. I was on it for abour five years at the max dosage.
I could not focus or concentrate, being an avid reader all my life I found I could not concentrate or retain anything. My vission got worse and I believe that Gabapentin was directly responsible for my need for reading glasses now.
The pain relief was minimal at best it killed my appetite and I had major moodswings. Inwould never recommend this medication to anyone especially for neuropathy.
Kay
Nevada
Get another doctor.
Liz
IN
I was on gabapintin for 3 months 300 mg 3x a day. By the end of the 3rd month I was going crazy or felt like it. Long story short… I was admitted to a mental hospital cuz I went nuts. Depression, anxiety, paranoid, irritable, short term memory, fighting with my kids and just going off on ppl for no reason, and attempted suicide.
Come to find out I was having the worse side effects from neurontin, which was schizophrenic tendencies. I was taken off the neurontin. Symptoms have calmed down but I still have tremors, short term memory loss, depression, anxiety, paranoid, irritable, lost my job, can’t drive any more and having to see a physicist and was put on alot of medication to control all the sidetails effects from neurontin.
ALL I CAN SAY BE AWARE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS. Don’t wait like I did and then have to be labeled a mentally ill patient. This medication ruined my life.
Jane Doe
SC
I took one dose today 300 mg. I feel really foggy and incoherent – I was prescribed this for alcohol withdrawal. After reading the comments of others, I am not taking another dose. Why do doctors think we are lab rats ? I am already suicidal and suffer from insomnia and PTSD…. is the VA looking to get less patients by killing them off?
Tamatha
Ontario
Been on gabapentin for less than a year. My doctor jumped my dose from 2 pills a day to 12. I felt as if something was off. I gained weight, well got bloated, bad edima in my legs and feet to the point it pained me to walk in my shoes. My bitchiness went off the radar, all I wanted to do is sleep or watch TV.
I lost interest in absolutely everything in life, including communication with my family. I have random bizarre thoughts of how to kill myself and I don’t even believe in suicide. Every other side effect mentioned, I seem to have. The worst part is my blurred vision plus the dizziness. I use a cane which has prevented me from falling several times. I would not have known about these side effects if I’d not looked up about my eyes.
I just want my life back.
Liz
I will not write a long history of my experiences with Gabapentin – enough to say “all of the above”. I’m 87 so all my drug-related symptoms and frightening amount of depression is blamed on “aging” and “loss of life style” but we Gabapentin victims know that isn’t the cause.
I’m writing because my constant suicidal thoughts are scaring me and I’m desperate to hear how others have managed to wean themselves off of this poison. I take 600 mg twice a day (2 – 300 mg capsules each time) for phantom pain following a leg amputation. HELP PLEASE!!
Greg
SF Bay area
I’ve been on gabapentin for nearly a year now and when I cut the daily med from 3600mg to 600mb per day instead of weaning off of it, I succumbed to major depression. Luckily for me, my physician prescribed me Lexapro to help. Lexapro has worked tremendously for depression. 5mg once daily and no side effects like inability to urinate like some of those antidepressants do.
Roy G.
Dallas, TX
I’m on Gabapentin for feet nerve pain, prescribed by my VA M.D. Have been on it for aprox 18 mo. 300 mg once a day. At night it seems to reduce the pain and helps me cope. Doesn’t take all the pain away. No major side affects, probably because of the low dosage. I have not asked for a higher dosage.
Mummy to 4
Northumberland
I’m on gabapeptin 100mg 3x per day for fibromyalgia. I can’t sleep my mood is all over the place I feel that I don’t want to live with my husband and kids anymore I feel that I have to go live on my own not had suicidal thoughts as of yet my memory is shocking I have spent all week in bed sleeping and I’m still in pain time to get back to the doctors and get medication changed
Robert S
sewickley, pa.
I was prescribed gabapentin by my pcp to try to help with my degenerative disc disease and hip and back pain and knee pain. after starting my first 5 day dose i started to break out in hive like welts on my face head and other parts of my body. but i continued it for 2 more weeks.
I got progressively worse with more welts, added PAIN in my back, hips, knees and other joint and muscle aches and pains. i called him up and all he said was stop taking it. i did and now im just starting to clear up and the pain lessened.
I have arthritis that is getting worse as i get older. im 62. ive had a major lumbar spine operation in 2015. ive been on pain management for 10 years. the surgery helped some but the pain still radiates from my back to my hips. it seems like only opiates help me. I am careful how I use them. Gabapentin is POISON!!!!!! Way too many bad side effects.
GE
My doctor prescribed this medication as a last ditch effort to stop my headaches. I was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia about a year following major brain surgery (the entry site was the back of my head, which is where my headaches start). Our current plan is to have me take a low dose and then wean off in a month but I’m scared that this won’t help or will hurt more. I already deal with dizziness and loss of coordination.
Darryl
North Carolina
After being on 800 mg of gabapentin 3 times a day for a few years and experiencing undesirable side effects as well as insane withdrawals if I forgot a dose, I decided to get off.
I first tried cutting out a dose which left me in hell. I tried breaking the pill and that didn’t work. I finally bought a digital scale that weighs grams to the 2nd decimal point. I began crushing the tablets and cutting each dose by 1 100th of a gram. In other words dropping by 1 at the 2nd decimal place weighing in grams. For my pills it’s around 7 mgs per dose and I still feel it although it’s doable and my body has adjusted in a few days so far. I stay at that dose for several days.
Folks, I have been on hard opiates for extened periods of time, many times in my life. I have been in and through withdrawals many times and it is terrifying, but for me, gabapentin is worse and just goes on and on if I just stop taking it.
My tablets weigh around 1.08 grams each and I am down to .33 grams by weight now. It has been a slow process, but I’m getting there.
Hope the scale thing will help someone that reads this.
Elira
FL
I was on Gabapentin for only 40 days, and now eight weeks after stopping it I have acute gout and can barely walk or function. I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years and eat a very high alkaline diet and low in purines. The uric acid crystals have formed on my toes and now, as a yoga instructor for more than 20 years, I am no longer even able to practice! The consistent pain for all of these weeks has been worse than childbirth and has left me almost paralyzed.
Please warn everyone about this terrible, terrible medicine. The doctors gave me no warning, and when I looked up all of the side effects it is now too late. I have been seeing an acupuncturist for the past week, and he gave me some herbs, and the treatments have been helping a little bit with the pain, but as you’ve probably read from others comments this medicine is ruining peoples lives and even causing them to commit suicide. What an atrocity big Pharma has become!
Jackie
Vermont
I’ve been on 300mg, 3 times a day for about a year. I never realized all the side effects until I put thought into why I feel so off. Along with headache, dizziness, brain foggy,loss of interest,and bitchiness I now have such ringing in both ears. It’s ruining my life.Does anyone else have the ear issue?
michael c
new tork
I have been on gabapentin for about a year 600 mg x 3 times a day, do not drink alcohol with this it makes have no coordination. When misused it can have the effects like you are drunk.
Philip
Texas
I am taking Gabopentin 100 mg three times a day for neuropathic pain. The most notable side effect is very soft stools ( a small amount several times a day). I will reduce the medication to twice a day and see if it makes a difference.
Haley
Southern Maryland
I’ve been on Gabapentin for about three years now for occipital, trigeminal and optical neuralgia and migraine headaches. It helps tremendously but the side effects have destroyed my life. In 2015 I attempted suicide twice and haven’t been the same since. I’m 21 now and on 3,000mg. I’ve forgotten how to ‘live’ life. I’m just surviving anymore and sadly I’m ok with that. I had no idea Gabapentin caused so much psychological pain. I’ve tried stopping the medication but the amount of pain and withdrawal symptoms tear me apart. I want my life back.
Arlene
Milwaukie, Oregon
I am on gaba 300mg 3 times a day for pain prior to having my hip replaced “soon.” From what I’ve read, I am scared to death as I am suffering from many of the symptoms listed there in particular the blurry eyes, memory loss, laziness, and bloating as well as many of the others mentioned. My asthma has also been bothering me more. I am calling my primary care doctor tomorrow.
Patty
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Have been an NSAID’s for so long I was so worried. I took my first gabapentin last night it was like magic I had no pain but I felt a little weird in my head, thought I check into the side effects . This makes me afraid as well. I have neuropathy and lower back pain and constant aching don’t know what to do.
Tommt
ny
I am a 53 year old healthy and active with swimming, Paddle Paddle Ball and lifting weights. I had my issiues with pain meds, a lot to do from 9 major hernia operations, and Drinking. Was able to overcome them all, until I was Unfortunately incarcerated for 6 months due to stupid driving issiues. Never locked up before. Was a nightmare, until about the 2nd month, where I was introduced to Gabapentin. At first, nothing.
It was only a sniff, But then about 2 weeks later, I developed the ropes of jail. I brought 6 400mg capsels, and my life now is all f–kedup!!! I spent over 2000$ in 6 months acuiring the “stuff”…JUNK….I wish to God I never did it. Now after being released from jail 1 year ago, I must have spent over 15,000$ on buying it from all sorts of doctor shopping. After-all, it is not a narcotic, right.???
Fast foward till now. I cannot do a freaking normal, happy thing without it. I can’t swim unless I have it, and I can’t play paddle ball without it. And even If I have it in my system, my coordination for PaddleBall is non-exsistant. Excuse my spelling, I am so depressed right now. Haven’t had it in 2a day. My toleaance went from 4-5 400mg dosages 1 1/2 ago to at least 50 600mg tablets a day. It is more addicting than alchol, painkillers, anything to me……I have no life without it and no energy…………………….I CANNOT BEAT THIS HORRIBLE ADDICTION…………I don’t think I’ll ever be the same…………So depressed………………..PLEASE, EVEN for your kids, family, friends or yourself….stay away from this DRUG…….
Lynda
Ontario Canada
Hi….I have always been an active woman and was raised in a day when you “pushed through the pain!” In spite of my fibromyalgia, arthritis, disc disease and severe spinal stenosis (caused from accident at 11 yrs). I have physically renovated 4 houses, had horses, had kids :) etc. and functioned, somewhat, while in critical, but reduced pain. I have never experienced a day without severe pain (i.e. couldn’t get dressed etc.) and would be totally disabled if it hadn’t been for anti-inflammatory drugs ( Diclofenac) along with Tylenol 3 with codeine/Morphine allowing me to function….. somewhat. This has been my life for 50+ years.
Now, at the age of 72, they tell me my back is toast, due to overwork/abuse and I have been denied the “working” drug protocol and have instead, been prescribed Gabapentin 100mg. @ 2 caps 3X daily. From what I’m reading my dosage isn’t that high but I too am experiencing the side effects of lack of co-ordination, heart palpitations, weepiness, confusion and insignificant relief from pain.
It appears that this is a downhill run from here as to creating more problems than I already have…..and I’m not real happy about signing on for this! The other day I was in such extreme pain that I bought some Advil (anti-inflammatory)…..took 2 and my pain disappeared within 1/2 hr.! Apparently, being an anti-inflammatory, it’s hard on my kidneys but regardless of what Doctors claim, ( Gabapentin is not hard on the kidneys), it still has to be filtered out by the liver and kidneys, so there would obviously be some affect re the kidneys.
After reading your stories and learning about the myriad of awful side effects, I too will be stopping the Gabapentin. Now, it’s a situation where I either ruin my kidneys or my heart due to the constant stress of extreme pain. At this point, I’m opting for damaging my kidneys….at least I’ll have some quality of life until they fail. Three other “tough” individuals/friends who are practically crippled due to injured backs ALL get relief with Advil. So, I think I’ll stick with the Advil, be significantly relieved of pain and pray that God will look after my kidneys! I’m truly sorry that there are so many in pain and thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort to be transparent and share your stories and insight….Who knows how many lives you have saved!! Blessings to all who are suffering, I sincerely hope you’ll find relief soon…..Lynda
C
Ma
I hope you are doing better
David
NJ
Wow man I feel the same as you with this horrible drug! Ohhh how I wish I had known about all the bad side effects and horrible withdrawal before being introduced to it by my psychiatrist…
Jamie
IL
I have been taking Gabapentin for 5yrs. I did not realize some of the issues I have been having were side effects from this medication. I have edema in my ankles and face. My eyes swell up so that I look like Rocky Balboa. I bruise very easily and have memory loss and search for words that are right on the edge of my tongue. I have reading all of the comments and see that I’m not going crazy(I actually started to think that I was getting Dimentia). I am now becoming scared that trying to get off of this med. may have worse symptoms.
Jeannie
West Memphis ,AR.
I’ve been on it for 2 months now. Was supposed to take it 3x daily but chose to take 2x a day. Taking it for severe pain in my arms. Just began to notice swelling in feet and ankles,dizziness and bad co-ordination. Some blurred vision. I want to come off after reading this. How should I come off? I thought about reducing to 1x daily and then every other day take one. After a week I will go to one every other day and then come off. What do you think?
Sean
TA1 2BN
I have been on gabapentin for over three years now I am sure that when I was first prescribed it for carpal tunnel syndrome what they have turned me into is disgusting why haven’t the FDA investigated this product?
Lauren
Scotland, UK
I’ve been on gabapentin for 6 months now, I was prescribed it for nerve pain in my foot/leg, I also have arthritis, it worked at first but now it’s no help, doc increased dose to 300mg 3x daily, and told me we will increase it again in a month’s time…….I can’t sleep for long, I have really vivid dreams when I manage to sleep ! My mouth is also very sore, I don’t eat much but I’ve put on weight, I don’t leave the house unless I have too, I don’t want to speak to anyone, my mood swings are worse, and to top it all I still can’t walk properly and I’m still in pain ! The sooner medical marijuana is legal in the UK the better ! I can’t cope with the constant pain, I forget everything ! At the moment I cant work screw on lids, its driving me nuts ! I cant concentrate on anything ?
J
UK
I was prescribed Gabapentin for nerve tumour pain in 2010. I have multiple nail-bed glomus tumours: one of the most painful conditions known, and had been suffering for a decade before the prescription. To articulate how bad the pain was, I was unable to fasten my daughter’s clothes or do her hair because I was in such agony. The pain would make me black out and would occur in response to the slightest little touch. In labour with my last baby, the nerve pain hurt far more than the height of labour. I could feel the pain over my contractions.
I had tried Amytryptaline (which did stop pain completely) but that is awful but I was so relieved to have my tumours found on x-ray and a diagnosis. Surgery did not resolve it so I was started on Gabapentin.
The pain relief was fast and absolute. It just stopped completely and I was the happiest woman, free to live. My quality of life was greatly improved. I was on 900mg a day.
But after a year something was not right. I have a history of clinical depression. I began to become incredibly thing and incredibly depressed.
After that year of the meds, I reached such a point of mental ill health that I was emaciated, weak, getting lost in time and space, acting erratically and planning suicide. I started to act out a plan and was rushed to a psychiatric hospital and found to be needing admission. I wasn’t sure what day it was, what my name was, but the psychiatrist managed to reconnect me with my surroundings. Bed space is rare in the NHS, and because I am a single mother with no support system, I was allowed to be treated at home by a critical care team.
Bipolar 2 was suspected, and trauma, plus depression. But why I was so suicidal that year was not understood.
I began to suspect the gabapentin, but was too ill to research. I joined the dots. My life had become a constant and intense urge to kill myself: step onto railway lines, step in front of lorries, jump off bridges…. such that i could not safely go out alone. I was also cutting words into my skin. I also would get severe confusion, like suddenly being unable to recognise familiar surroundings. I once got very anxious ina supermarket looking for my ‘husband’ and being unable to find him. I was 40 and my adult son had to explain to me that I had never been married in my life and take me home. But I had never been like that before in my life. Always depressed but never like that and I could time the change in my personality with the Gabapentin.
I aired my concerns with my team, 6 mnths into treatment, and they said they were surprised because they were unaware of any links with gabapentin and suicide, but I started to wean off anyway. Once weaned off all suicidal compulsions stopped. Completely. All self harm stopped. I was depression and rapid cycling, but I was now safe outdoors
On the downside I now had to live with the tsunami of black pain that came back. Its now 5 years later and I have to manage on codeine. I have had to choose pain or going back to that mental hell.
In fact, my nurse did research and found out I was right, though there was barely anything on it, and she was amazed at my positive personality change after weaning off. She said the team would file a medical report on the impact Gabapentin had on me.
The drug is absolutely fantastic nerve pain relief. I gained 100% relief and I have had friends take it with no problems at all, and have a dramatic improvement in life quality.
But it was not safe for me. if this med is prescribed think carefully, make sure loved ones (if you have them) know that there is a risk of confusion and of suicidal urges, so you are being monitored for personality change.
I am the only person of the pain community that I know that has been hurt by the med. For everyone else, it was a life saver. Oddly they all experienced significant weight gain but no mental ill health. I did the opposite and went from chubby to malnourished. Its not for everyone.
But its worth saying it did give me total pain relief, 24/7, while I was on it, which is incredible.
Bill R
FL
I have been on Gabapentin 300mg 3x for about 18 months.
I quit “Cold Turkey” 4 weeks ago.
In the period of time I was on Gabapentin I have gained 30-40 lbs, lost my short term memory,and cannot think clearly. I am an engineer and cannot add anymore. I cannot “Operate” my iPhone except to make or answer calls. My spelling and grammer is soo bad.
Thank God for spellcheck. I cannot work. I do not make sence of much when in a discussion with my partners. I have been home now for the last 3 months. I spend much of my time in bed with my dog. I think of suicide every morning when i get up. I have attempted suicide twice and been locked up twice. I am a Nam Vet and use the VA Hospital exclusively.
I cannot Sue the VA and both Pfizer and the Indian Manufacturer will not give me the time of day. The FDA is also of no help. Attorneys will not take the Gabapentin Case unless it is a “Class Action”. Some of my Vet friends call our Symptoms “Brain Fog”. I hope someone will take on the challenge of going after the Manufacturers of Gabapentin. My Fellow Vets and myself will help where we can. I probably will not be here but of few of our vets will make it through. Sorry to have “Dumped” on you guys….Good Luck ..Bill R USMC
William R
Florida
… Being “Damaged” by Gabapentin .. forgot to mention that I have lost three teeth in the last 4 months. Apparently, this one of the side effects of taking Gabapentin. Two Dental “Specialists” have advised me that they don’t really want to rebuild my mouth until the two teeth that are loose fall out. The deterioration in the bones will take years to rebuild.
Others have experienced the same Dental Issue I am having.
You may be able to recover mentally but the teeth are gone for good. 30,000 and 3-4 years to rebuild .. forget it ..asta..
Kate N
Perth, Australia
Omg…I’m in Australia, I CANNOT BELIEVE SOME OF THE DOSEAGES, you guys are on…I had head injury, prescribed Gaba 600mg at night. Now on 900mg at night. I don’t know how you function taking during day at such huge doses. After reading article that led me here, I AM COMING OFF THIS.
Too many side effects crossover with head injury symptoms for me. As in perhaps not h/I but side effect of Gaba. Fuck I’m shitting myself, days I have been off Richter scale manic, I’ve realised I forgot Gaba. No mental illness history, no family history. Any ‘safe’ or safer recommendations for neuropathic pain (severe, is cognition flatlines)
John H
North Carolina (NC)
Since I started taking the drug, I feel tired and worthless. I have gained weight and I am very unsteady. My penis is now like a frightened turtle…..it will not stick its head out except to pee. And the only time I don’t have to pee is when I am peeing…. Hate this drug…has done nothing for me….
Susan
kokomo in
I was just perscribed 300mg on 3/23. I had been taking lyrica for a month and I felt better but the out of pocket cost drove me to find something else. I know I missed a few days because I only have 5 missing out of the bottle. Monday I came down with what I thought was the stomach flu. Not to be graphic but I know there was not as much in my stomach that came up and also a bit shocked how much was at the other end as well.
I was diagnosed with fibro on oct 2016, and in nov found out I also have Psoriatric Arthritis, Rheumatiod arthritis and Osteo in my spine. I have been on celebrex, not good at all, elevile was worse. Ive not had good luck with meds other than pain meds that work also, but Dr. doesnt want to perscribe more that one a day. I feel better and get more done with a clearer head and no side effects that bother me. Why in gods name is it so hard to just treat patients with what works?
I will not be taking any more of gabba penten as of today 3/31/17.
I am believing that what I am experiencing is withdrawls from lyrcia and reaction to gabba penten. I have been a zombie since monday and only worked 1 full day all week. This is not acceptable. If the drug isn’t made for what we have it should be illegal to give us. I will be getting a hold of my primary care Dr. ASAP.
J
Just to add, I did not suffer any withdrawal symptoms as I remember, opting for a very gradual, slow and tailored weaning under medical supervision. The worst med I ever had to stop was escitalopram, which needed to be done abruptly, and it was horrendous. Exploding brain electricution for 2 weeks! Gradual weaning can stop symptoms usually.
Turned out it wasn’t excitalopram causing the problems in that case, but another med. And I went back on. It stops my moods dipping too low.
Starting the meds, I was a zombie for 2 weeks and then ok, until the cognitive adverse effects began to affect me after a year of use.
I am strongly pro pharma btw, if it is combined with other therapies. This is because I study brain science at post grad level. meds are one part of a holistic program of different activities that can correct abnormalities of the amygdala (emotional regulator) in the brain. In clinically depressed people, the amygdala changes shape and can be corrected with things like movement therapies, talking (ie CBT) and drugs. Drugs are not a cure: they just are there to get you to a place where you are able to cognitively start joining other treatments like CBT, mindfulness and different moving therapies.
As for nerve pain… I think that is for life, sadly.
Just somebody
Alabama
I was prescribed benzodiazepines in increasing doses for about 10 years for anxiety. In 2014 I felt like I was always in withdrawal at very high doses of valium. The doctors were always happy to give me more but I knew I had hit the top. I quit cold turkey, and if you know about benzo withdrawal, it’s a living nightmare.
Enter Gabapentin. My mom gave me some of hers to ease the symptoms and it got me through it. The doctor approved. I never wanted to stay on gaba forever, but once again when the time came, I had to take it because of anxiety. I took 300 mg every 6 hours.
Over time I gained 30 pounds and became sedentary. I was either in bed or in my chair for most of the past 2 years. My vertebrae around my bulging lumbar disc are degenerating and my joints ache. I attributed this to my autoimmune condition worsening, though that’s a giant leap in a short time. Lately my ankles have been acquiring fluid, which has scared me about heart failure due to being sedentary. My teeth began crumbling and it’s hard to eat. I’m about to be 29 and need 7 implants that I can’t afford. I can’t work because I do have a physical disability where I can’t stand up for very long, but now I can’t even stay awake long enough or think through the brain fog to hold a sit down job.
My memory became mush. I was always at the top of my class, but I feel like I’m becoming dumb even though I still learn new things everyday (was excellent at calculus and advanced physics, but now have trouble doing simple arithmetic mentally). My vision became more blurred as time went on. My blood pressure and resting heart rate are too high.
I was too scared to come off of the gaba until very recently when it made me feel the opposite of calm and complacent. One morning I woke up with tachycardia, and taking a gaba made everything speed up. It now induces anxiety attacks, palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness. I felt calmer when it wore off.
I knew I couldn’t take it anymore and had to go cold turkey. I’ve been eating cashews to get more magnesium because my muscles wouldn’t stop clenching even after clenching them as hard as I could, then releasing several times. The magnesium has allowed me to sleep and relax more.
This withdrawal isn’t too bad for me though compared to benzo withdrawal. I’m a little sensitive to light, sounds, touch, a little nauseous, and generally feel uncomfortable. But what’s amazing is the mental clarity increasing. It is the morning of day 3 and each day I feel more alert. My vision is still quite blurry. My ankle fluid has gone down a little. I feel like I’m waking up from a decade long nightmare brought on by the pharmaceutical industry, and I’ve lost years of my life. Everyone’s experience is unique to them, so I’m not saying it is a universally bad drug, but be informed by research.
I’m not a doctor, but if you have pain troubles, please research dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It is used for athletes and thoroughbred race horses. Maybe it will help you more than big pharma. Instead of needing more with time, you need less. Cut down on your intake of simple carbohydrates and PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) like omega 6, as these cause inflammation. Increase omega 3 intake. Try “golden milk” made with turmeric and black pepper for pain and asthma.
Get your nutrition through eating a healthy diet with plenty of saturated fat. Meditate. Get your vitamin D from the sun 30 minutes a day – go for a walk. This has helped me with a lot of things (pain, asthma, gastrointestinal issues, negativity) despite the gaba side effects.
Perhaps it was just time to quit and I’m glad the time came. Because I began treating my body better before I went off, I feel healthier and much more positive, but I do have a long way to go. Good luck to everyone out there.
Bryan Davis
Turkey Texas
I am on it I take two pills at morning noon and bed time I have read some of the comments I can’t sleep don’t want to do anything tired all the time blurred vision unstable so how do you get off of it they gave it to me because of diebetice
Kathy
Kannapolis
Is anyone else experienceing hair loss?
JOHN
Georgia
just started taking this drug about two weeks ago for neuropathy from arterial bypass in my right leg and complained to my Doctor that there was still an immense amount of pain in my leg and foot. He doubled my dose to 200 mg three times daily, and after four days I felt as though the pain was twice as bad. Which brought me to looking online for the drug’s side effects when I saw this article concerning the increase of pain while using this drug. I will not be taking any more of this and what concerns me most is that neither he nor anyone in his office advised me to be aware of these possible side effects.
Meri
Michigan
This is the first drug that was literally shoved down my throat whenever I asked for pain relief from one of the top 3 neurological diseases known to man. Instead of going a much safer route of prescribing narcotics, my physicians refused to prescribe anything that would remotely help with pain.
We all know how serious opiate addiction is but I’ve never been an addict. If we suddenly had addicts getting high off insulin, would we automatically refuse to prescribe insulin to real diabetics that needed it? This is exactly what is happening to pain patients across America. More and more are committing suicide and many pain patients feel helpless because they are chained to their pain.
Gabapentin was heavily marketed to be the cure-all for neuropathic issues but many patients know that this drug doesn’t work at all for pain. When pain patients request something else, they are prescribed something else, doses of this med are raised. And once again it doesn’t help at all. We need more physicians to open their eyes and their ears to the cries of pain patients that are seeking a better quality of life and not looking to get high!!
Lisa D
BC
You took the words right out of my mouth. This is how I feel, as well. Thanks for sharing.
Alex
N. Carolina
I couldn’t have said it better. We who are dealing with chronic pain are being abused and need to form a group and apply some pressure to whomever it is who is playing fast and loose with our suffering. I have been on oxycodone for about 8 years due to two post spinal surgeries and it has been a great help in giving me the chance to live a normal life with minimal pain. Without it I would be in a chair or a bed for most of the day yet here are the doctors telling me I can no longer have the drug at the dose I am presently on. I have followed all the rules, jumped through all the hoops but apparently it doesn’t matter because there are people out there abusing the drug and overdosing. Somehow that has resulted in the “legitimate users” being told we can no longer have the drug or can have the drug at a much lower dose or can have the drug at a much higher cost. I was told I could have a new prescription of Oxycontin for $2000.00 a month!! For the “one percenters” it would not be a problem so the rich, like some radio personalities I’ve heard about, are free to enjoy a pain free life. What a perfect analogy to point out that if some people got high from insulin, it would make no sense to stop prescribing it to people with diabetes.
If at some point I am no longer able to continue taking oxycodone, I fear for my future. I don’t consider “living” to be sitting in a chair or lying in a bed so I could sincerely see suicide as a possibility. And, I am so angry, angry and helpless. Who are these people making these decisions that make no sense. They must be relatively intelligent people but they exhibit no common sense.
I’ve been prescribed gabapentin also and find no relief at all. Could it be it’s all about just making more money. There is something else going on here.
Hamid
Unfortunately, I experienced hair loss as well, and I’m fighting to get all that hair back but nothing works. My hair became weak and thin.
Damien
Maui
Like many who have commented, I to have chronic pain due to a degenerative L-5 vertebrae along with cervical stenosis, arthritis and Thoracic outlet syndrome. I started gabapentin many years ago but it had never helped with my pain. However, I’ve been prescribed gaba again by another doctor in a long line of doctors. Started 3 months ago at 200mg 1@ 8 hr. intervals.
No reduction in pain so dose was increased by 100mg or 300 mg 3x’s a day. Still no relief. Now, I’m up to 800mg 3x’s per day and suddenly my left leg starts to swell, my eyes are leaking, my vision is blurred, my blood pressure has gotten out of hand and I’m forgetting words. This is really making me upset and frustrated with no empathy from my Doctor who wants to keep increasing the dosage.
I’ve also gained weight and still no relief from pain. Prior to getting this new Dr. I had been taking only oxychodone 2, 5mg tabs every four hours or 12 tablets per day as needed. I had been taking that dosage for approx. 2 yrs without any complaints except that I didn’t want to keep taking so many pills. No side effects were evident except for some constipation which stopped with a capsule of sodium docusate daily.
When I sought a new doctor, it was because I had moved and I asked at the very beginning if she would help me wean down to half the amount I was taking. After 1 year with her, I was doing just fine on 6 tablets 5mg every four hours or 2 every 8hrs. She then put me on gabapentin which takes me to the beginning of this thread. However, she has been complaining about the DEA getting invovled with this and that and that she had to stop the oxychodone and send me to a pain management doctor.
At this time, the swelling in my left leg is moving to include my right leg and both arms. My blood pressure is thru the roof and I’m ready to strangle her. I have stopped going to her and am seeking another primary care physician who can maybe get me to where I was coping without having to take medication high blood pressure (amlodipine, and lisinopril) and 600 mg of ibuprofen which will destroy my liver and kidney, Benzonatate to help with coughing, asprin for the headaches and simvastatin for colesterol whic used to be good.
Never needed any of that until the gabapentin. At the second opinion, which I got from going to emergency for the swelling, when the doctor saw me he said WHOA!!!. haha…Said to me he can’t suggest that I stop the high blood pressure meds or anything else for that matter but also stated that if I believed that the gaba was affecting me as such, that I could start taking less and let the pain management doctor know what and why. Pain med doc. said no keep taking the dosage. I’m not listening to him either.
I have started taking half the prescribed amt. 400mg 3x’s or ebery 8 hrs. and in a week ( I started reducing last week) will reduce by half. What I can say at this time is that the withdrawals are brutal and you kind of have to try and work thru them. If you have access to any opiates, they will help, even just a small amt once a day till the gaba works it’s way out of your system.
They say within 7-8 hrs and if you don’t take more it will start to work it’s way out. Depending on how much and how long you’ve been taking the Gaba makes a difference as to how long you will experience the withdrawals. I’m already losing any withdrawal symptoms. But again I have to oxy’s 5mg @ 3x’s per day. Still forget words, still have the swelling, still have the pain, but no longer compelled to strangle my ex primary care phys.
Wishing the DEA would do their job instead of trying to do the Physicians job. And also wishing the best to all of you who have taken the time and courage to come out and share your private thoughts and conditions. Blessings to Ya’ll….
Laura
Flprida
Laura. I’m taking Gabapentim 100 mg for a week and feel all nervous and shaky. Think it’s the medication. Want to quit
jodi
maine
I too have been on gabapenting 300 mg 3 times a day for about a year now and since then MY BL0OD PREASURE Has been high and I have no pain relief also! my hair has become brittile and is falling out more than ever! I missed my apoitment with my pain speciliat that precibed it and my reg doctor thinks I’m just a drug seeker and wont even help me . I complainabout anxiey and nerve pain n chest pain simce ive been on it and they keep telling me to go to the er , I went two months ago and had a ekg and chest ex ray and got abssoulty no answers, I aslo see a variety of therapist and pycatrists and a reg doctor and no one has ever exsplained the side effects!! ive been honsest and telling I’m on it for over a year for fibromailga and my therapist dosent give me any advise other than I shud take it for relief of my anxiety because I cannot get any doctor or pyciatist to give me clozapam what I used t be on and what used to work wonders!
Nancy
Colorado
I am currently weaning off of clonazepam after being on it for 20 plus years for insomnia. Problem is, I was drugged but no longer sleeping. I went to a sleep specialist for help getting off and he only recommended melatonin, which I had already tried. My PCP has been of no help, even though he is currently prescribing the drug, so I am doing this on my own. My husband was given gabapentin for neuropathay, that didn’t work for him.
I am now down to 3/4 of a .5 mg clonazepam and read that going off of clonazepam can cause seizures. I’ve been taking 300 mg of gabapentin at bed time and it does help me sleep. I feel bloated and my clothes are tighter, but am so determined to get off of clonazepam, I’m willing to put up with the side effects. The weight hopefully will come off once I am off of both meds. Before I get a speech about taking my husband’s gabapentin, please know I have tried to get off of clonazepam for close to 15 years and failed.
I was also on Ambien and got myself off of that two years ago. I am definitely foggy, having memory problems, weight gain, but I only have about eight weeks of 300 mg of gabapentin, so I am cutting the clonazepam .12.5 mg approx every week. Hopefully I can taper off of the Gabapentin without any problems. It isn’t a great drug, but clonazepam is worse.
Tina D
Tennessee
I was diagnosed with shingles that started in my inner ear. They first prescribed Lyrica which did not ease the itching or help aid in testing. A month ago I was prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg twice a day and then 300 mg at bedtime. I, like so many others, saw relief in the beginning but now just feel like I could sleep all the time. I am always tired and drained feeling. Trying to wean myself off all medication is hard when I have suffered almost 2 months with these shingles. Help!!
Robin
TX
Hope this helps with your shingles: I have had shingles for 30 years and even now I can get them as many times as twice a month, due to having a stressful life. In the beginning, after no good results from the acyclovir the doctor gave me, I looked it up to see how to take it. This was because something just didn’t seem right about it not working. Turns out that the doctor told me to take it 3 times a day and the drug company recommended 2-400 mg. in the beginning and 1 every 4 hours afterward.
After that, I took 2 the minute I began to feel the tell-tale itch where the sores would generally pop out on my skin, or the ache in my heel, and I set my clock for every 4 hours, even all during the night. The result? I have never suffered more than the original discomfort of shingles since. They normally only last for 24 hours but I keep taking the meds for 2 days, just to be sure the shingles are completely forced to dormancy before I stop.
A bit of advice: Carry a bottle of the Acyclovir with you wherever you go, so that when you feel the first sign of onset (tingle, itch, or ache), you can take 2. Then, immediately, jot down the time to remind yourself when the next one’s due, 4 hours later. PS: I’ve had the vaccination and it brought on the worst case I’ve ever experienced, so it didn’t work for me. Have had them 20+ times since (no pain meds needed).
Jeff
Los Angeles
I started on 100 mg for a pinched nerve in lower spine. I was supposed to take it 3 times a day. It gave me flu symptoms nauseating me and so we cut back to 100 mg daily. Then I graduated to 200 mg three times daily. Still no change in pain so we went up finally to 600 mg four times daily. Ive been on this four years. It has done fine to stop the pain and did make me gain 20 pounds and extremely forgetful. Now recently I have been feeling depressed off and on and very sleepy. I don’t feel like I’m all there. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to black out. When I take an extra gabapentin I feel better. I don’t see any Benefit in this drug if it stops pain at first then has all these negative effects later. I’m going to wean myself off this drug because I believe it is causing worse problems making all the pain worse also. I’m going to try exercise machines to up my endorphins to feel better. Watch out this medicine will come back after making you feel better and bite you hard and you will not only feel you are loosing your mind but you will feel more pain and gain lots of weight, and feel depressed.
Jeff
Los Angeles
I started on 100 mg for a pinched nerve in lower spine. I was supposed to take it 3 times a day. It gave me flu symptoms nauseating me and so we cut back to 100 mg daily. Then I graduated to 200 mg three times daily. Still no change in pain so we went up finally to 600 mg four times daily. Ive been on this four years. It has done fine to stop the pain and did make me gain 20 pounds and extremely forgetful. Now recently I have been feeling depressed off and on and very sleepy. I don’t feel like I’m all there. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to black out. When I take an extra gabapentin I feel better. I don’t see any Benicia in this drug if it stops pain at first then has all these negative effects later. I’m going to wean myself off this drug because I believe it is causing worse problems making all the pain worse also. I’m going to try exercise machines to up my endorphins to feel better. Watch out this medicine will come back after making you feel better and bite you hard and you will not only feel you are loosing your mind but you will feel more pain and gain lots of weight, and feel depressed.
Pat
texas
Several years ago I was prescribed gabapentin post surgery for severe nerve pain for a nerve that was severely damaged. Well I took it for about a week and began to have bad hallucinations and apparently amnesia because only bits and pieces of my memory can be recalled. I lost several days and do not remember a thing. Talk about scary after I finally came to myself I got more scared than ever. What happened to that week?
Christine
ON
I used to take 1500 mg a day. I was told to take 3 (300 mg) in the morning and 2 at night. I was told that was wrong I had to take it evenly 3 times a day. I slowly upped my dosage as prescribed. I did this at a bad time and had a bad feeling about when I should be doing this.
My cat had just died and I really confused my “changes” to “just” mourning. Well that was months ago and after complaining to my doctor and being told I had the flu and this and that, I finally suggested things changed at the same time as my dosage increase. I am taking 900 mg (3 capsules a day too many).
So, now I have to wean myself off and pray my side effects won’t get worse before I get feeling better. I think I would like to get off them all together but am terrified of the withdrawl symptoms I have gotten in the past from missing a dose. I have been taking this medication for years for fibromyalgia.
Nancy K
Oklahoma
I have been on gabapentin for several years, 1st with brokeen foot. Then fell at work have had neck & shoulder surgery. Back is next. Have had depression, confusion, memory loss, can’t seem to get things in order, so I do nothing because of pain, have arthritis now, so everything difficult.
But the drug helps me sleep at bedtime or I have continuing thoughts and can’t sleep, dr has tried so many drugs, but never took anything before injuries. So sick of feeling bad & pain.
Sandra
Durham, nc
I was prescribed gabapentin 100 am and 100 pm and 200 bedtime. I feel foggy, dizzy and bloated. I’m going to wean off it. It helped my anxiety initially but not now. I have only been on it for 3 weeks.
Dave
California
Gabapentin long term is bad! – Memory Loss, ADD so much more!
Gabapentin starts off as the miracle cure then sneaks up and harms you!
I am a chronic pain sufferer, with multiple herniated disks and DegDiskDisease. I have bi-lateral neuropathy down both legs that hurt so bad I want to cut them off.
I took 600mg of Gabapentin 2-3x daily for 8yrs It was amazing at first then the bad started… Started dropping stuff, just passing out when pain got bad, Then it got real bad started getting memory loss (I forgot the name of the drug Id been taking for 10+years for an entire day! I would walk into a room and forget what I was doing constantly, Names? forget about it!) and ADD symptoms bad! (Racing thoughts, Inability to focus, cant finish tasks like extreme ADD!)
So I opted for surgery to clear out the nerve paths in my spine… Didn’t work 100% but I wasn’t going back on Gabapentin that drug helped but did so much more damage! Its not worth it! My memory started to come back but I still get spots where I forget stuff I shouldn’t. the ADD is still in full swing I’m now having to see a Dr for that! Thank the lord I did not have withdrawal symptoms also! (I took low dose Nortriptyline for few weeks while coming off Gabapentin that may be why).
DO NOT TAKE GABAPENTIN For long periods! Do not take more then 600MG a day! what I do now for mornings which are the worst for me (little better after surgery) I use a Quell 10’s unit (iTens also nice) so while Im sleeping its working when I get up first thing I put on shoes and walk on treadmill for 20-30min slow pace so Im tricking my brain signals naturally, yes your body will ache while walking till you adjust and it sucks but Its better then legs aching so bad you want to cut them off! to my fellow Leg Shakers find another way as gabapentin will hurt you and its hard to see that when it helps so much at first but the end is not worth it and does not justify the means.
Sue
Minnesota
Recently prescribed gabapentin 300 mg nightly for hot flashes, and it helped lessen these and with sleep, but the negative side effects are not what I bargained for. The most bothersome is the dazed/foggy-headed feeling, fluid retention, some joint pain and moderate constipation. I am going to stop this medication and opt for something more natural that doesn’t cause other problems.
Alex
Manitoba
I have been healthy my whole life until two years ago when I woke up with blisters on my legs that turned out to look like burn marks, I have been put on 3,600mg of gabbapentin per day for the last year and a half, and also tramacet, I’ve been through every test thought imaginable and every test I’m 100% healthy.
My thoughts have been very blurry at times and short term memory is fading, I’ve made the weird comments that make no sense, I’d give anything to get back to before taking these drugs, the worst thing is these doctors and specialists still have no idea where my problem comes from, apparently I’m 100% healthy, although the pain relief from these drugs has helped but aren’t helping as much anymore.
From reading the posts here, I’m really concerned on getting off of these kind of meds…
Maureen
- Select -
Both my husband and I take Gabapentin for years now, I have neurophy and have develop chronic pain. They are now saying that it can result in you getting dementia and Alzheimer earlier! I take it 600 mg a day and then take 50 mg of Nortriptyline HCL. I have a hard time sleeping, the stinging pain keeps me awake!! What can I take, to get off these harmful drugs? My husband takes 900 mg 3 times a day! It has us worried, that we could lose our mind as we get older!! I am getting to be 60 years old and he is over 60 years old! I have gain a lot of weight, didn’t know that it could be the medication I was taking. I retain a lot of water too, so I am on 2 water pills a day!!
Jared B
San Bernardino, Ca
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for three months now. Unfortunately I misunderstood the directions about taking one capsule of 300mg three times a day. Instead of take it separately in intervals three times in a day, I took all three at once when I went to bed. Now I am experiences some kind of weird sensation in the left side of the face. It’s like a tingling, numb or inflammation feeling. So, I was wondering if anyone else made this mistake and if anyone can assure me that if I switch to the recommend three separate times during the day if this weird feeling in my face will go away.
Lee
Maine
My doctor put me on a low dose of gabepentin for arthritic nerve pain, and it appeared to work well at first. She then tripled the dose and that was when the side effects started. My head felt like it was swimming and my leg muscles began to ache, making it difficult to get up off the couch or walk up or down stairs. I am still feeling the effects and am extremely moody all the time. I want nothing but quiet with no distractions and no more stress. At the same time the doc is weaning me off my pain meds, which is adding to my stress level and moodiness. I wish she would leave me alone with the medications for pain that I have taken for the past 25 years with no problems until now. Some of us out there use narcotic pain medications responsibly and do not get high from taking them but now with the new laws, we feel like we are being ignored and demonized along with heroin addicts and pill heads.
Shirlee
MN
AMEN
Charles
Brunswick GA
I was prescribed Gabapentin but I don’t know why. I have been taking 100 am, 100 pm, 200 at bedtime. As far as I know it has had no effect on my headaches.
About the time I began taking it my eyes began discharging, and I developed sores around the eyes, and my vision became blurred. About three months ago I was prescribed 100 am 100 pm and 600 bed. I started to feel like I had the flu, and it became very bad. I weaned myself off it and felt normal again. About a month ago I was given 300 am, 300 pm, 300 bedtime. I became very ill with what I thought was the flu, and then it was like I had bronchitis with coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, sore joints, fever, sweating, chills, and total rotten feeling. they also took me off Oxycodone.
I cannot say Gabapentin ever alleviated any pain. They said I was addicted to Oxycodone but I only took 1 30 mg. I also have watery very dark stools. I will go without rather than then take a chance. I also have dark thoughts, acute depression. Name it. I have it.
i
Janet
Colorado
I have never done well with any medications, and pain meds in particular. Genetic testing shows that I’m a slow metabolizer and can’t process certain classes of drugs. But I have a lesion in my spine that causes “just shoot me” pain that is so debilitating. I finally tried a very small amount by opening a 100 mg capsule and putting a little on my tongue.
I could not believe the difference it made in my pain level. I have been sleeping through the night all week for the first time in ages. The amount I’m getting this way is probably no more than 10-15 mg per dose, but perhaps the fact that I’m taking it sublingually makes it more effective.
Sharon
How long did your withdrawals from gaba last, I’m on day 3 and feel like I can’t breathe
Sara
St Paul, MN
I read the article and a few dozen comments. I have no idea if this will ever be seen, but I offer a counterpoint. For me, this drug has been a godsend. I’ve experienced severe sciatic pain since September from two herniated discs and two bulging discs in my lower back. Severe pain for me has included searing pain slicing down the sides and back of my left leg, glute pain so bad sitting is very uncomfortable and impossible more than 30 minutes, and sleeping less than 4 hour stints. The other symptom that for me has been the scariest is the complete loss of feeling in my left toes. However, since the very first time I took Gabapentin and warm relief spread down my leg, I can feel my toes! My balance improved greatly. Pain reduction was so good, I moved off the awful Vicodin the doc had me on. I feel I can function again as I navigate this healing process of PT and cortisone shots. I feel hope! Every drug is not for every body…bit this one is working for me.
Lillian N
indiana
I was prescribed gabapentin for facial neuropathy following jaw surgery and the doctor increased it, in one visit to 3600 per day. The result is that my blood pressure skyrocketed to 240/110. I have weaned myself off of this and will never, ever take it again. Withdrawal symptoms include hot flashes, sweating and fatigue
Keith
United Kingdom
Recently stopped taking 300mg daily dose of Gabapentin after only 17 days of use. Used to alleviate lower back pain. Decided it wasn’t for me after feeling detached and “zombie” like! Can’t believe how bad the last 6 days have been after taking final 300mg dose. Severe bouts of Anxiety, low mood, pressure in head and face, shaking, feeling of being extremely cold, disturbed sleep and an array of stomach/digestive problems. Is this possible from such a short term low dosage?
Lila C.
Colorado
I think so, because gaba works in your brain. I like to read science. I will post story of history of gaba later. I had short and long term memory problems. Gaba may help some people. Gaba was not developed for nerve pain, but is a seizure med. Like this site says, docs can prescribe any med for anything they think it might help. This should be peer reviewed if allowed, imo. Short term may be fine, but toooo many people with too many problems. I would say be aware, be wary. You are changing your brain chemistry and there are no tests for the chemical balance of any. It is using your brain as a test subject. I have 10 yr history w Gaba. IThe best wishes to you for healing.
john
Ottawa, Canada
Re: Surprising side effects of Gabapentin.
I have experienced the nausea and depression that accompanies sudden withdrawal and am almost accustomed to being loopy to the point of appearing drunk for the first two weeks I’m on Lyrica. What I had never experienced until today was the potentially far more dangerous side effect of extreme fatigue and gabapentin.
I take lyrica in order to limit my opiate intake which I take for chronic pain. As a pain sufferer lack of sleep is a fact of life. Going two or more days with virtually no sleep is quite common. This morning, however, I ‘lost’ 5 hours completely. When I became present again I was standing in the kitchen, clinging to the sink trying not to fall over. I have no idea how long I was standing there. The last thing I remember is seeing that the time was close to 5:00 am while watching a TV show on my laptop. Thankfully in an apartment there is only so much damage I can do to myself; I can’t tumble down the stairs for example. This has scared me into lowering my lyrica intake regardless of whether that causes a bump in my opiate intake. I’d rather be a wee bit drowsy than zoned out and blacked out.
Ann
Ms
Want to get off Gabapentin. I have had RLS now for over 25 years. I take 300mg around 10pm, then wake up around 2 or 3 and take 2 to 300mg again but seem to be sleepy during day. I am tired, very quick-tempered and more depressed; also have memory problems. Have been taking Gabapentin for about 2 years now. How do I wean off and still get help with my RLS?
Kelly
England
I have been prescribed 300mg to take 3 times a day. I have noticed that I have become a bit thick. I cant get words out and forget things a lot. I also seem to be quite unsteady on my feet. Falling into things or wobbling as I stand up. Does anyone else feel like they are losing their intelligence?
Ruth
Ohio
I am currently taking gabapentin, prescribed by a neurologist who had met with me once, for I believe neuropathy. She did mention restless leg syndrome too but I am already taking a different medication for that.
When she mentioned this medication I told her that I was concerned about weight gain, she “looked it up ” on her phone and told me that it doesn’t appear to have that side effect. I also told her that I have suffered from a severe depression and a very serious suicide attempt in the past. Neither of them phased her in the least and off I went, prescription in hand.
I mentioned this to a pain management doctor I was already seeing and he increased the dose from 100mg at bed to 300mg three times a day. It knocks me out, I am rapidly gaining weight and getting depressed again. I was doing better but now I’m not.
I am going to try and get off the medication but I am afraid of what will happen to me. I was a nurse and knew that somethings about the medication but not the risk of suicidal thoughts. What is going on with the medical profession these days? What ever happened to listening to the person served? This is a tragedy, in my opinion and I hope that I will be alright. Please don’t take this medication,
I am completely serious.
Joanne
ID
Thank you for sharing your story. I have so much pain I pray all the time, God stop this pain. I started 300 MG of this drug and have just felt horrible . I feel like I have the flu, tired all the time, weight gain. 18 pounds in 3 months. My blood pressure is out of control and I’m still innpain. I’m 53 years old and feel just lost. I’m taking myself off this medication.
Frank
SEATTLE
I was on 1200 mgs of Gabapentin daily for three and a half years for benzo withdrawl seizure prevention, pain, and insomnia when I decided it was time to wean myself off the drug. Every time I tried to reduce the dose I would suffer classic withdrawl symptoms. Realizing this I visited the prescribing doctor who is an addiction specialist and told him about the withdrawl symptoms. To my surprise he said I couldn’t get withdrawl symptoms from weaning off Gabapentin. I told him I begged to differ as I know what withdrawl is after having previous withdrawals from both opiates and benzodiazepines. His response was its impossible to become addicted to Gabapentin because it does not cause production of added receptors. He went on to explain that what I was experiencing was discontinuation syndrome which lots of drugs cause so I should wean myself off a slower rate. This was an eye opening experience and I have come to the conclusion that wether one terms it withdrawl or discontinuation syndrome the affects are the same to the user. Isn’t it just like pharmaceutical companies to create an innocuous phrase like discontinuation syndrome to circumvent the stigma associated with the word withdrawal. Presently my dose is down to 100 mgs per day but I’m not done yet but here’s hoping for the best.
In retrospect, I would advise people to seek alternative therapies to siesure medications when prescribed for off market use.
Aileen
North Ayrshire Scotland UK
Took gaba for nerve damage 300mg 9 days came off cold turkey thought was having heart attack, confusion, strange thoughts, sweats, night terrors, dizzy, sick, itchy, pain in chest through to back, heavy sore left arm, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and more this is day 7 and still have most of these symptoms they are settling down a bit but it’s been hell. I had to come off it as these symptoms started after 3 days of taking it. I’ve been to a & e after being off it 2 days as I thought I was dying. Doctor never mentioned to weane myself off it just said stop it if it’s that bad and gave me pill to replace it which I haven’t taken too scared would never wish this on anyone stay away from this and be very careful of any future meds. Not worth it.
CRC
South Scotland
I have been on 1200mg of gabapentin for 17months for periferal neuropathy from bulging discs in my lower back and severe pain in my foot (like a hundred electric shocks running through it) and also severe sciatic pain. I have to say that for the most part it worked well in releiving the pain. But …. I am completely and utterly brain fogged with it. I can’t remember people’s names, or simple words to describe things. I constantly go from one room in the house to another and then have no idea where or why I was going. I walk to the shops to buy milk or bread and then can’t remember what I went to buy. I now feel can’t stay on it much longer, but am terrified of trying to come off it after reading about the horrible side effects of withdrawing. And if I do come off it, I can’t seem to find anyone reporting any suitable alternative. No wonder people have suicidal thoughts. I am, however, just about to wage war on the medical professionals around here as I have had no suggestions as to how best to treat the source of the pain, rather than just dumping me on what I now know to be terrifying drugs. My heart goes out to you and others suffering such torment. It’s time docs were honest about side effects of these meds. Time they earned the salaries they happily receive.
Shirley
Okla
While Neurontin 800mg 2 x daily has helped my jerking, pain, and stiffness to a livable degree, Gabapentin does little or nothing. I was on Lyrica once, and taking at night with Cymbalta in the a.m. worked very well. However, I must go to a free clinic for meds, and they only have Gabapentin. It’s the closest thing to cymbals; they treat symptoms separately, and I have several illnesses, including fibromyalgia.
After waiting and searching for answers for 8 days. I can barely even walk. Many times my back stiffens to a point where I must sit or lie down immediately. I believe there is much more wrong. I feel hopeless much of the time. My life has passed in a fog. I just want to live!
Jennifer
Blackhorse Ohio
My podiatrist recently prescribed me 300mg of Gabapentin at night, for nerve pain (I had Plantar Fascia Release surgery 3 months ago). My sister was on this med, though I am not sure of the dose, for fibromyalgia… And she said it caused her rapid weight gain. In talks with a few other people and seeing different concerns online, I am hesitant to take it.
I asked my doctor about it today, and he said it was a low dose and would be short-term and that I should just take it. I’ve already gained 30lbs in the last six months due to steroids and immobility after surgery. So conflicted as to what to do! I am in pain and need some sort of relief. Any alternatives out there?
Fredric
Indiana
As a complication from back surgery 4 weeks ago, I have lost control of the thigh muscles in my right leg, and also have the burning sensation like the skin has been burned on the front and right side of that thigh. The PA prescribed Gabapentin to reduce the pain.
Thank you to everyone who took time to share your experience of using this medication. Luckily, I’m one of those who has a high pain threshold and from the information you have shared will put up with the nerve pain instead of risking the side effects of this medication.
Thank you!
Sarah
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 10 months ago. The doctor prescribed Lyrica. It worked very well to control the burning sensation that I felt all over my body just under my skin. It took a while, but it also helped me to sleep. When I first got diagnosed, I had gone from sleeping like a log to not sleeping at all. Insurance no longer covers Lyrica so I’m on gabapentin 300mg a day. It does almost as good a job as the Lyrica, though I’ve read absorption rates at higher doses is minimal. I’m not aware of any side effects as of yet.
Rodny K
Michigan, USA
I recently read from a reliable medical source (one of the AMA journals) that like opioids, one oft the risks of gabapentin is dementia. However, it was not clear to me if this meant that this was a temporary risk (such as is obvious that while you are under the acute influence of opioids – or alcohol) one’s memory will be adversely affected, but presumably once one recovers from a night out and too much alcohol, that memory is restored to normal after a good night’s sleep, unless this is not just a Saturday night problem but an every day one. So, if I take gabapentin for a type of neuralgia I have affecting my tolerance for certain foods (and wine) prescribed by a neurologist a few times a week (800 to 1600 mg 2 to 4 times a week), am I at risk for progressive dementia?
ciro
NY
Hello, more than 10 years ago, I came with chronic headaches on my left side of my head; I was told perhaps I had sinus, had sinus surgery and the headaches were worst; they also mention I had a deviated septum, my nose was worst after surgery; went to see more than 10 neurologists here in new york, had mRI scan and others (nothing was found)doctors started to give me so many kind of pills, like gabapenton, lyrica and so many, many others (my stomach became and still a big mess; later I found out that some of these medications were for people with epilepsia or others; at present I am just a mess; gave up completely; believe the Lord one day would provide me the name of a pill that would help(not migraine). I keep hoping. Thanks for listening Sincerely c.gonzalez
Lyn
Puget Sound, WA
Gapabentin, Cymbalta and Lyrica are the new Opiods, and they do not work well for those who suffer intractable pain. Gapabentin causes, in many older people, (65+) an Alzheimer’s-like state, whereby thinking, walking, talking and safety issues are paramount for patients well-being.
Gapabentin was not intended by the FDA to be used in lieu of pain medications for those with exquisite pain, yet MD’s continue to offer patients these drugs that have incalculable side effects depending on the medical issue at hand, age, and other medical conditions patients have. I refuse to take them, do not take pain meds, but do take one 8-hr.
Acetaminophen daily, that barely touches the level of pain I experience. I don’t want Opiods, but would like to see more research and development done by pharmaceutical companies to address intractable pain without the side effects of currently used and sparingly prescribed controlled substances – it would make them a fortune if one could be developed, and serve people well.
I would suggest that people who are offered these drugs, decline the use of them as in my case, having ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia, and serious back pain, these drugs cause more problems than they cure. Patients have the legal right to refuse any medication an MD offers, but completing due diligence prior to the refusal of a prescription is necessary so that patients don’t arbitrarily refuse the prescription that could be helpful. More information needs to be disseminated by Physicians regarding abruptly stopping a medication that could have adverse serious results.
Hopeful in Puget Sound.
Cholly
North Carolina
I have been on 600 mg of Gabapentin at bedtime for around 15 years, which was prescribed for me after a sleep study showed I had a severe case of Restless Leg Syndrome. As long as I take it faithfully, I have no problems with RLS. If I fail to take it, my legs will jerk involuntarily.
It’s entirely possible that I may have had a fair amount of weight gain as a result, but due to other conditions, I had become sedentary. I recently joined a gym and work out 3 times a week. The pounds are starting to fall away.
CP
Springfield, MO
I’m not diabetic, but was put on Gabapentin because my feet burned in the night. I’d get up and put them in cold water, which stopped the pain. I was taking 2,400 mg. I started having short term memory loss, could not remember what I had for breakfast in the middle of the day. I couldn’t remember the words at the end of my sentences, so would say, “Well, you know”. I’m slur my words sometimes, and my tongue felt thick. Then, I’d read that if you took 600mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid and 1,000 B-12, that after about 8 weeks, I could cut my Gabaprntin in half which I did. My memory problems got better after 6 months. Now my podiatrist is telling me If I take L-methylfolate, B6 and B-12, I may be able to quite the gabapentin totally. I guess I’ll try it.
Mason
Mid-Coast Maine
A little over a year ago my doctor prescribed Gabapentin for nerve pain in my lower back down to my feet. I no longer remember the dose. I took a single pill which put me to bed for 24 hours. I was extremely sick with dizziness and fatigue that made it difficult to even open my eyes. Never again with that stuff!
Teresa
FL Florida
Mason,
What your Podiatrist told you to take would be in medical grade RX called Metanx. It is for Diabetic nerve pain in the feet, hands arms. I take it for my feet and would not be without it! Ask your Dr for an RX, it’s 2 capsules daily.
Michelle S
Texas
I would ask for Cerefolin NAC instead. L-methylfolate is processed by our bodies much easier than synthetic folic acid. Also, if you have an MTHFR mutation, folic acid (synthetic) could actually block the folate receptors leaving you severely deficient in folate.
Rebecca
Ohio
Magnesium is what saved me! I started pumping in magnesium and it helped tremendously. Took too much at first and got diarea, but gabapentin. Depletes magnesium and if you look it up, magnesium depletion causes all those problems coming off gabapentin
Linda
Indiana
What symptoms did you have that the magnesium helped? Did you take the magnesium AFTER you stopped the gabapentin and were going through withdrawal or while you were still on the medicine?
Linda
Maryland
I was prescribed gabapentin for hot flashes. Slowly worked up to 900 mg each night. I gained 10 lbs, have swollen and sore hands and feet. It did help the hot flashes but a coworker pulled me aside to ask if I was “okay” because I’d been acting weird. I stopped taking it. Didn’t know I was supposed to step-down so I just abruptly stopped. Didn’t notice any severe withdrawal but I was only on it for 3 months. I will never take it again. I’ve been off it for 2 months and the weight had not dropped nor has the swelling and sore hands and feet. Oh well… better to deal with the hot flashes!
Lisa
Belmont NC
Was prescribed this drug 2 months ago after going to primary doc for numbness-tingling in my arms, hands, fingers. Having just started a very physical job (working on concrete), I blamed much of the symptoms on the job. I was already due for a check up at this point anyway. Low and behold, after leaving the visit and returning home, my phone rings from local pharmacy telling me I have prescriptions to pick up. Me being the research rat that I am, I immediately started researching this drug. I was alarmed, (understatement) at the horrible side effects.
It was then in this moment, I decided to quit my job. I then called the pharmacy back telling them I did not want the prescriptions. (By the way, the other med prescribed was a generic ‘over-powered’ aspirin). Here I am almost 2 1/2 months later, and the tinging/numbness is a faded memory. I use turmeric instead, along with Bosweilla for my chronic arthritis, which is something I have dealt with for many years now. Every time I see a drug commercial on the tube I want to throw it out in the yard. I can’t believe so many fall into the cracks of the drug industry, but it’s proverbial and vicious path plan and simple.
William
Cottonwood, AZ
I have been on Gabapentin for 6 years following a Trigeminal Neuralgia attack. It has successfully controlled that situation with a dose between 2700 mg and 600 mg. I titrate it down when I feel it is possible. I have had no weight gain or depression or any other of the side effects (Except maybe some tiredness at the highest doses). I currently am on 300 mg twice a day. For me it has been a lifesaver and spared me some neurosurgery.
Ann
Durham, NC
I had gabapentin prescribed on different occasions–fibromyalgia, amputation of foot (I am not diabetic) and non-suicidal depression (I am not bipolar). I think a high dosage of gabapentin might not be good for those who have bipolar illness. Gabapentin has been very helpful to me. After decades of difficult sleeping, I sleep well. My depression and migraines have lessened. My dosage has ranged from 100 mg to 300 mg at night though I had a much higher dosage after the amputation. It has helped the depression, the fibromyalgia and the nerve pain.
The only side effect was it did change my vision and if I took a prescribed stronger dosage I would need new eye glasses. For me, gabapentin has been helpful but no medication is helpful for everyone. What may be a good medication for me might not be helpful to you and vice versa. I think we have to be careful of over generalizing a medication’s impact–either for good or for bad, and assuming that everyone will have the same experience I have had or that you have had. Other people will have my experience and other people may have a negative reaction to a medication. Therefore, I really am skeptical of folks sharing their experience without qualification.
Mark
Florida
I was prescribed gabapentin 300mg twice daily for diabetic neuropathy in my hands, which tingle and always have the sensation of being gritty like covered with sand. After several months I told my P.A. that I didn’t believe the neuropathy was any better, and I wondered if an increase in dosage would help. She changed it to three times a day.
Still there is no change. I have noticed the sleepiness, the increased joint pain, and the inability to lose weight despite a significant reduction in intake.
After reading this article and the many comments by others, I have decided to start tapering my dose with the goal of stopping the drug completely. I can live with the neuropathy and without the side effects of gabapentin.
Padrick
hull england
Started on gabapentin about 6 weeks ago for postherpetic neuralgia. I think I’ve been over dosed because I’m currently on 2400 mg a day 3 x 800 dose. I am having bad headaches, feel drunk, forgetting things, agitated, sore throat to name a few problems. I rang the doctor telling him I need to come off them. The pain they are giving me is worse than the pain it is supposed to be treating. Which, by the way hasn’t improved. Awaiting reply, whatever happens I will reduce dose gradually. I know it’s not doing me any good. I’ve always trusted doctors but I believe they have made a mistake in giving me such a high dose in such a small time scale. I also should have consulted earlier. Been sick for 2 months due to shingles then the PHN now need to get of this gabapentin and get my self back to the real world.
Sherri
Painesville Ohio
I was taking 800 mg of Gabapentin 3 × daily for a long time. I started having severe headaches so I insisted my Dr. reduce my dose. I now take 300 mg 3× daily but have gained weight, no energy, joint pain, just to name a few side effects ! It’s a bad drug !
Suzanne
Byron, GA
My 19 year old daughter was prescribed Gabapentin to daily (all day long) ice pick headaches that were debilitating. She had most of the negative side effects that others have mentioned, PLUS, she had hallucinations and very vivid evil, scary dreams. I took her off of this drug after doing some reading on the internet and finding a site where users of Gabapentin reported similar reactions. Fortunately, I did more research and she now takes GABA and Taurine to calm the electrical excesses in her brain that seem to cause the ice pick headaches. This has worked wonders with no nasty side-effects, although she does have to take it three times a day to keep the headaches at bay.
Steve
Naples , Fl.
I have just filled a doctors order for 300 mg of GABAPENTIN to cope with the pain after a bout of shingles last week.300 mg x3 daily=90 in total.
What can I expect to be pain free?
Naomi
Oregon
This is Naomi again, as I don’t know if my thoughts went out or not. In short, I have gained 15 pounds in only two or three months, and this is not satisfactory since I have had high BP all my life and has been controlled with substantial weight loss.
So, I will tell my doctor that I insist on being immediately put on decreased dosage and taken off just as soon as possible.
Naomi
Oregon
I have been prescribed Gabapentin 300 mg at bedtime. After taking it about three months, I have been gaining weight at an ALARMING rate and have now gained 15 pounds. Since I have also had high BP in the past, I am concerned enough that I am decreasing the dose until I can see my doctor. Also, I will tell him that taking Gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy is NOT worth it and will not ask him to take me off Gabapentin but will TELL him to take me off it. Period, and that it is not open to discussion.
Sue
portland maine
I have been taking Gabapentin for about 6 months to help relieve my horrid withdrawal from 25 years plus of klonopin and alcohol. It has worked well for me and also helps me sleep at night. I take 1500 mg a day.
Jane
I have recurring shingles, and since my head-on collision I’ve been getting them every 3 months. In addition, I have a nerve or somthing in my crotch that makes me feel like I have a UTI and bladder infection. I was prescribed Gabapentin years ago, and it made me suicidal. Then they tried every variation of the drug. Same reaction: I am in constant pain from the nerve damage of having shingles so many times and continuing to get it. The head-on collision caused the brake pedal to go through my ankle so it had to be fused. I just had surgery to take out the hardware they could get to, but had to leave a screw in that cuts into the flesh when I put pressure on it.
I went to see my doctor because in Washington state they made a law that no one can be on pain meds so I am being taken off my pain meds. I went to see my doctor, and it was a sh&t show. She told me “You look like you’re suicidal.” I said, “No, I’m in pain. There’s a difference.” She told me to take the Gabapentin. I told her twice, and it’s in their records, that I am allergic to it. I told her it makes me suicidal, so she said “You look like you’re suicidal anyway, so just take it.” Then she wrote down that I have genital herpes.
Michelle
Texas
Time for a new doctor! Find one that will search for the root cause of the recurrent shingles… what is going on to weaken your immune system? There has to be a better doctor that will listen.
teach1
Arizona
I was taking 1800 mg Gabapentin for 2 and a half months for pain from a herniated disc. I was in great pain. No pain pill, muscle relaxant or anti-inflammatory helped so the dr. prescribed Gabapentin. I did not like the side effects, but had no pain. My side effects, I believe were: blurred vision, fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression. Now, reading here of some of the side effects others have had compared to the symptoms of my herniated disc, make me wonder if my symptoms are related to my herniated disc or to the Gabapentin. I have taken a week to wean off the Gabapentin. I have less hip joint pain then I did a week ago. The muscle spasms I was having a week ago are now gone. I am not sleeping well. I am depressed because I am in the middle of trying to settle a workman’s comp claim that was denied me. So, are the symptoms from Gabapentin or from the herniated disc?? Very disconcerting.
Teresa Stuart Rios
OMG find another Doctor fast! Run don’t walk. Good luck!
Joye
USA
I’ve been using Gabapentin for almost 4 years. I am taking it for debilitating neck, shoulder, and arm pain. I had surgery last year to stabilize and support my cervical spine, and took up to 1800mg daily post op. The surgery went well but I still suffer from stabbing nerve pain and severe pain down my left shoulder and arm. I take Gabapentin along with Skelaxin and hydrocodone on a daily basis. Throughout my 4 year journey with Gabapentin I’ve been very aware of side effects and risks. I’ve weaned myself down from 1200mg daily to 600. I take one 300mg midday and one at bedtime.
My advice to Gabapentin users and anyone being prescribed a new drug is to be your own advocate. Ask your doctor questions if it’s a new drug. If not your doctor, certainly your pharmacist. Sometimes pharmacists can explain things better than your doctor.
As far as the side effects go, this drug helps me cope and stay active, continue to work and participate in my hobbies. I’m aware of the dizziness, the weight gain, the foggy feeling. I also have digestive issues at times, but, I stay in touch with my doctor about these things, and I continue to use it because it works for me.
Don’t blame the drug for your failure to discuss it’s side effects, both using it and discontinuing it, with your doctor or provider. Be your own advocate. Ask questions.
cooper
utah
I had lumbar surgery that only partly fused and left me now 18 months later in constant pain. Two weeks ago my new doctor put me on gabapentin. 300mg three times a day. First dose caused me to be unsteady, but saw difference in pain. I am only taking it twice a day. Now it’s two weeks later and it helped to make the pain tolerable. Wish I went the long term effects, but can not find that information. My pain is about 50% less. Side effects are minor headache and feeling a little spaced out. Sleep much better now about 6 to 8 hours. Any one know of long term effects? Thanks. Sorry it does not work for these others.
Lois
Atlanta
Upon reading side effects of this drug I refused to take it!!!
Again..I remind people you are responsible for taking care of your body…Doctors
do not know everything…and
most of them know nothing
about drugs..we are so Blessed to have the internet.
Thank God! I flushed those pills down the toilet where they belong!!!
Michelle
Texas
Please do not flush medication down the toilet, the water is either filtered and returned to our lakes, rivers or oceans, or cleaned and returned to our tap water.
Dom
Dallas, Texas
I have been taking gabapentin for a year due to pain caused by herniated disc l4-l-5. The doc said it would help with the pain and give me relief. Over the course of the year I have gained about 20 pounds. I also have difficulty thinking, speaking some times.
It is as if the words cannot come out of my mouth, with my face twitching and my lips. My doc thought it may have been a TIA but it is the gabapentin that is the cause. Additionally, I feel like I am in a fog, and have bouts of forgetfulness. Sometimes I think I have dementia but it is all due to the gabapentin. I am 46 and have a very demanding job and I am really tired or lethargic and have difficulty sleeping as a result of the gabapentin.
I experienced depression and went and got an evaluation. I told the doc I am taking gabapentin for low back issues and she also prescribed it for anxiety. This is the worst drug I have ever taken. I am going to address this with my doc and ask to be hospitalized in order to get off this med. Thanks for sharing and know that you are all not alone. I will pray for you please pray for me.
Karen
Long Island, NY
Gabapentin was prescribed for use after my episode with shingles. While meant to decrease the lingering nerve pain……
I now have gained 12 lbs in 2 months, all my joints….especially my ankles, are incredibly swollen, I have horrible sweats and have scratched my arms raw from the fiery burning under my skin. My arthritis is worse than it has ever been. Oh, and I forgot about the BP spike.
If GABAPENTIN has done any additional damage I will find out when the blood work results come back.
Judy
FL
Has anyone suffered burning tongue syndrome while coming off Gabapentin? Been taking 300 mg x 2 for a year. Down to 300 once a day.Suffering from headaches, mood swings, itching all over and anxiety. The tongue burning is bad and wondering if its from the withdraws or something else.
Bel
Michigan
My teen was prescribed gabapentin at the age of 13 for bulging disk pain. (short term as needed) She took it for about a week. I can not remember the dose. I was not given any info on how to wean off. She felt it was not helping, so we decided for her to stop. Shortly after and for the past 3 years she has gone through bouts of anxiety and depression. Could this be connected. Hate seeing my child who was honor roll, out going and happy go through this. Interested in thoughts and/or similar stories.
Laura
Uk
I’m on 1200mg 3x a day for disc pain that gives leg spasms. They seem to be getting worse and worse so I’m slowly getting off it now.
Pat
Florida
I have been on Gabapetin for years. I take 300 mg at night. It stops the massive body cramps I was having. I have had open heart surgery, and I am on 1 asprin per day. The fibromyalgia pain was awful. Now it’s tolerable. I would never give up taking it and go back to the pain of body cramps. As a suggestion, I also take 2000 mg of vitamin D, which is something that helps with depression.
Suzanne
California
Gabapentin is the worst medication I have ever been on. I could not think clearly, had brain fog, word retrieval issues and difficulty even reading. In addition Gabapentin affected my sex life and I gained weight. I was given this drug for osteoarthritis and bulging disc pain. It did not relieve the pain. When I decided to go off of it, I had the WORST withdrawal symptoms. I was depressed, irritable, achy and suffered from sweats. My doctor did not warn my of any of these debilitating side effects. I will NOT take this drug.
FrustratedinOK
Oklahoma
Doctor prescribed Neurontin a couple weeks ago. Have been taking as directed. Actually just got off the phone with my Doc, called to explain to her that I’ve had extreme GI distress since starting this med, along with loss of appetite, mood swings, feeling half drunk or half asleep all day long, insomnia at night (haven’t slept in a couple days now). Her response was to immediately desist this drug, as it is most likely an allergic reaction. On top of the side effects, it had no positive impact on my pain levels whatsoever, if anything, I feel much worse due to the plethora of side effects.
Nicki
Essex
Gabapentin has ruined my life….
I was prescribed it in February of this year for insomnia and hot sweats and the side effects were more than terrible. I was prescribed 900 mg and I got to 600 and went back to my GP who said be patient, it is an amazing drug and it will help. He told me to go up to the 900mg and see how it goes. I did and it was horrendously disorientated, severe blurred vision, paranoid, strange thoughts, a rash all over, insomnia, anxiety and panic, extreme lethargy to the point I was catatonic at times, had to move out of my brand new flat that took me ages to pay for because I couldn’t be on my own and feeling like that, couldn’t drive or work, and didn’t go anywhere because I just couldn’t.
I went to GP and he told me ok. I think some of your issues may be anxiety, but it’s fine to just stop taking it 300mg a day over the next few days. I dropped by 300mg that day, and I woke up in the accident and emergency department and I apparently I had a major seizure…it was petrifying…the neurologist at the hospital gave me a liquid form and told me to wean off 25 grams a week..the withdrawal was horrific..almost like I was stuck in my worst nightmare … Serious hot burning skin so bad that I could sleep because if my skin touched fabric the pain would be so intense I would cry..completely unable to communicate, tremors, shakes, itching so intense it would again force me to tears because I couldn’t scratch because my skin was so sore.skin peeling off my face and ears..a rash all over my left arm that was the most painful..I felt like it would never end…I have been completely off for 5 weeks now and what started to happen about a week ago could be life changing…my feet started to cramp..terrible pain, and were so stiff that I could barely move them, then woke up the next day and my feet were completely red raw and burning, but put it down to withdrawal and battled on I was determined to get through and get my life back…then it started to get worse and worse..it felt like I was walking on the bones of my feet literally…sharp pains going up my feet into my legs..constant twitching, prickling, electric shocks that are now all over my body including my hair…desperate I went to my GP today and he suspects nerve damage..which he says has nothing to do with the drug..I am in such a bad way today mentally…knowing that this damage may be permanent and could progress, and I can barely walk now…I am in absolute agony, no sleep at all for over a week on top of what I have been through already.
When I left the doctor today who again could not understand why i was so upset, when I feel like he did this to me in the first place…I see no future like this. I am 48 and because of this drug I have gone from being a confident happy healthy woman going into menopause and I could now be disabled with no life. I seriously thought about throwing myself in front of a train today, and the only thing that stopped me was because my boyfriend called. I am sorry to put this out there but I am pretty desperate and if fellow sufferers could splash give me some hope…is this temporary, is it part of the withdrawal? Is it mi I King nerve damage? At this point any hope may save me…
I wish you all well in your journey and hope that I hear back from someone..
All the love and support in the world x
Don
Las Vegas, Nv
It is amazing at the terrible toll (Gabapentine is taking on peoples life). My doc, wants me to take 1500mg x 2 daily. I can’t believe the horror stories about this drug. Then my doc say you will be addicted to any opiates. I have to wonder what planet he is on. I hope everybody who has posted a note, good luck
Anna
Texas
I just read your post and hope you’re doing better.. stay strong.
Aaron
Texas
I am 68 yrs, male, and have had fibro pain for many years. Heart condition, “i.e.” afib controlled by sotalol, a tendancy for artery blockage, “i.e.” 3, 100 percent blockages, 2 bypasses and a stent. I take a time release nitro and occassional nitro as needed in under tongue pills. All that said, I take gabapentin at 2700 mg daily divided in 3 doses, and 50 mg of tramadol 3x daily. After using Lyrica, Cymbalta and other drugs for the constant pain and horrendous flares, the gabapentin and tramadol blend has given the most consistant and effective help of all I have tried. One never knows how a particular med will work for them. Good luck to all who need the help of these q and a sites of what to try and what to expect. A good doctor and time is the main thing.
Anne
Blasdell, NY
I have taken 300mg 2x a day for about five years for restless leg. It worked but the last refill I got did nothing at all. There is powder in the capsules, checked w/pharmacy to see if any one else had complained, but no luck. Have decided to stop all together as It took me five days of no sleep before I realized the drug! was not working. Its been 7 days and at some point I figure I will be so tired I will sleep. I am retired female of 72. Does not seem to be a recall for”Ascend lab”.
Roger
FL
I am a 74-year-old male who has been taking 600-900 mg of gabapentin daily for about three years for occasional nerve pain for diabetic neuropathy. Because I had these symptoms only occasionally, it is hard to judge whether it had been of any benefit (I still had the nerve pain from time to time and never could say it went away permanently.)
Recently, I had an angioplasty to unblock an artery behind my knee that went badly and I almost lost my leg because of no blood flow for more than 12 hours. Now, the burning, tingling, pins-and-needles in my foot never goes away. I am still on the same dosage of gabapentin (up to 1200 per day prescribed, but I’m only actually taking 600). An occupational therapist helping me has warned me of “grave dangers” of taking this drug, so now I am torn between increasing my daily intake to the prescribed 1200 mg or quitting it altogether. What would you advise?
Tim Mason
Chattanooga
I took Gabapentin as well for a brief period. It made me very depressed and could not sleep. The doctor put me on valium 5 mg three times a day. It really made the difference. No more mood disorders and I slept really great. Valium saved my life. I am 58 so there are no worries about addiction. I suffer from degenerative disc disease. I had a spinal fusion a few years ago and have a lot of scar tissue.
Gail
Whitby, Ontario
I would listen to your therapist Tim, I would get off this medication, but do it slowly, my girlfriend is going through sever withdrawal from this drug. It also causes suicidal tendencies. . Take care.
Michelle
29601
I have been on Gabapentin for 4 years, following a case of Bells palsy-like (additional nerve damage was caused, they don’t know how or why). I have noticed that I’m getting early stage dementia-like symptoms (memory loss), and have been told by my doctor that that is a common side effect. I’m 33, and have to support myself, and it’s frustrating trying to learn new things at my job, and having the memory God gave a gnat. I’ve tried reducing my dosage, but immediately start to suffer the excruciating headaches and muscle twitches again.
Debra
Ca
Addiction comes at any age just because you’re 58 years old does not mean you cannot be addicted
jamie
gainesville,georgia
Gabapentin is not a good thing to take and could cause further health problem….Doctors keeps pushing drugs to their patients that do not need it and stop trying to create people into drug users….Go check out dollar for doc who get paid!!!!
And medical profiling…
Roger
St. Louis
BEWARE of Neurontin. It was prescribed to me for nerve pain, sleep, anxiety — almost a “wonder drug”. After a couple weeks, I was seriously depressed. I had written a will and planning the ‘best’ day to kill myself. My ex-gf is a psychologist and she caught on during a phone conversation and she talked me off the cliff. She saved my life. BEWARE OF GABAPENTIN.
Gerry
New York Mills, N.Y.
Gerry H. Have been on Gabapentin for 2 months now, am up to 1200 daily and it does not stop the pain in my thigh, knee or foot. I am in pain all day and worse pain at night, and can not sleep , only passing out for a few hours. Gabapentin is a joke for pain and shame on the doctors for prescribing it! My son has stepped in since finding out i have been just sitting and crying most of the day and he is getting me to a neurologist and the right treatment for the terrible pain i am in. If in terrible pain get a referral from your doctor to see a specialist, do not accept a prescription for Gabapentin.
Nancy
Wa
I was recently diagnosed with voice tremors which is directly related to familial tremors. My MRI looks perfect but the nerves connecting my vocal folds cause me to suffer with tremors. I began with difficulty talking a few years ago but compensated with an intentional speaking rythm in hopes to hide my condition. It suddenly hit me head on more recently to a degree that it felt like my muscles in my throat had to work extra hard while trying to speak. Also though I’m not a singer, I cannot sing at all in church because of this misfire connection condition. I am a nanny and an elder care giver. I am 56 in perfect physical health aside from some tailbone pain and anxiety. I am praying this will help me get my voice back. So far in just 3 days I feel I can speak better, but I must say that I’m not sure if I feeling a bit worse with anxiety. I will update next week. I’m so thankful for threads like these as the comments have assisted and encouraged me to give this a try.
Jennifer W.
SE Ohio
Nancy, I started trying Gabapentin in 2013 for fibromyalgia pain and to help me sleep. In 3 months my weight went from 217-234, then up to 243! I now mysteriously have a 6mm nodule on my throat right next to my hyoid bone. I have to clear my throat all of the time and my voice has changed. It is hard to sleep because I constantly feel as if I “have a frog in my throat”.
I did lose almost 50# (In 2 months) after I stopped and developed this nodule but my menstrual cycle is so messed up I was having month long periods! I consented to try a low dose norethindrome (birth control although I had my tubes tied in 2008) because I didn’t want to have month long periods. Now they are “tracking” nodule (they are afraid to do a guided biopsy because they don’t want to puncture my windpipe by accident!) Now the radiologists say it isn’t effecting my thyroid, but my oncologist is concerned. I am curious since I saw your post do you think that Gabapentin caused your and my similar symptoms? Thanks for any reply!
“Lost in Ohio croaking like a frog”
Jennifer W.
SE Ohio
Eek I guess I should have read your post all of the way through. Just ignore my post!
Kat
NC, USA
I am female, 62, and taking 300 mg Gabapentin 3 times a day for the nerve pain after shingles. I cannot sleep no matter what I do. And believe me, I’ve tried numerous relaxation techniques. I was recently in the hospital and they used lidocain patches across my breast where the nerve pain is so bad. It was wonderful, to say the least. I had whole days with no pain. When I left the hospital, no prescrip for the patches but I have to take all this Gabapentin. I am very leary of this medication after all I’ve read. Plus the fact that the 300mg x 3 times a day is NOT doing the trick and I don’t want to up the dose. If anything, I want off this med. (I won’t do that without medical help). I have heart disease with Afib and have to have my thyroid removed within the next 3-4 weeks or so. So anyway, back to the Gabapentin – I absolutely cannot sleep and it’s driving me crazy!
Guener
NM
I guess, based upon my reading of comments here, I am a fortunate person that benefits from Gabapentin with few side-effects. It relieves my anxiety and helps some with my osteoarthritic hip pain (that I cannot use NSAID’s for, due to another condition). I take 800 mg twice daily. At 800 mg / 3x daily, I started to have some tingling in my fingers on one hand, but it’s fine since I dropped back to 2x a day (morning and late afternoon). It does give me gas, along with my anti-depressant, but I can live with that vs. anxiety and depression.
Teresa
Guener, maybe they don’t wan to give you an RX for the 5% Lidocaine patches because of your heart condition and being that you need to place them so near your heart area. Prolonged use of those patches can increase chances of heart problems or heart attack. I do use two at night on my outer thigh.
Alfie
Michigan
Oh, I forgot, I am 68 but still stunning.
Alfie
Michigan
Gabapentin was prescribed to me by my doctor for the treatment of unrelenting depression. It was one of the first medications in 17 years that I could actually say made a significant change in the pain of depression. Now, I take other medications that are effective. I could not really know which one is responsible for the failure in my cognitive skills. I am sure they are all causing confusion and lack of retention of facts that otherwise would be a no brainer.
I have tried to reduce the use of Medications for Depression, but I do not want to ever go back to days without end of never a peaceful moment. I think there are some of us that are glad to be here enjoying some time with our family. It might kill me sooner (than if I did not take these meds) but it is nice to want to live. I also would like to make clear that I am not a diabetic, or obese, nor do I have High Blood pressure or heart disease. I do have osteoarthritis and I am dizzy but not blonde.
STACEY
SUN CITY, AZ
My doctor has presently included 300 mg of lamotrigine with my usual dosage of 300 mg gabapentin daily. I am wondering are the side effects of this combination a problem with weight gain, forgetfulness or any other problems in my lifestyle?
Sidney*
london.England
I was first put on GBPTN 12 years ago for the relief of the burning pains in my thighs. After a few years of no relief the dose was increased to 3 capsules (300 mg) 3 times a day. I once tried to decrease and spent a week feeling like I was doing “cold turkey”. I went back to the dose and have continued for some years. I do not feel less pain but have grown accustomed to it (it feels like my legs have been severly sunburnt). I have noticed a certain amount of memory loss but this might be due to my age. I am 90 years and 1 month old.
Teresa
Hi Sidney, yes the 2 drugs you are taking are anti seizure drugs and you better believe they cause weight gain. I would think the first one you mentioned causes more weight gain.
michele
Texas
After having my gallbladder removed two years ago, my feet began to burn like a zillion fire ants were were stinging me. My A1C was 10 and blood sugar was 314. Zing! Diagnosis-Type 2 Diabetes. Before the GB surgery I was borderline & had no burning of my extremities. I was prescribed Amaryl, Metformin, & Lyrica. Have been able to lower the A1C to 7.4 and my blood sugar hovers around 160. Still a work in progress.
The Lyrica did wonders to stop the horrific burning pain, but, unfortunately, I began having the ‘Lyrica Flu.’ Every inch of my body hurt, 103 temperature, nausea, pounding headache. These fluish symptoms would last 2 days. My Dr. switched me to Gabapentin. At first the dosage was 300 mg. 3x’s per day. 1.5 months later he increased the dosage to 600 mg. 3 times a day or spaced further apart for night relief. Now, I’m on 800 mg. 3 times per day/night.
Gabapentin has been a miracle med for me, despite the heavy sedated feeling and intense-upon-waking arthritic pain, especially in my shoulders & knees. I’m forgetful as well, but, I can deal with these side effects so much better than the burning hell in my feet! No Gabapentin Flu, & the intense burning pain is 95% resolved & no suicidal or depressive episodes. Lyrica was super expensive & the insurance co. gave the Pharmacy hell to get it refilled! Gabapentin is far- FAR less expensive & no issues from the insurance co.
If by some miracle, the burning stops, I’d do a slow taper from Gabapentin. I did that already with Klonopin & didn’t rush. Oh, & I pair the GPTN with Ibuprofen & always take my meds with food. Something substantial–apple with cheese, or peanut butter, yogurt & a banana, etc…
We are all different in which meds do what they do to and/or for us. I hope my story helps someone out there because each & every story here has helped me understand how Gabapentin can help or not. I truly wish none of us needed meds to help with pain but am happy that there are meds that do help.
ckf
Has anyone experienced hives while taking gabapentin? I have taken it since June 2008 following surgery for spinal stenosis, and had a vein so pinched that I ended up with drop foot. The resulting nerve pain in my leg and foot is what prompted my dr. to prescribe gabapentin. It has helped, but after 4 1/2 years I suddenly got hives which lasted 6 months; after 6 months free of hives (taking allegra and zantac) I suddenly got them again – same week of January!! Hives is listed as a side effect, but if that is the reason I got hives – why after 4 1/2 years, and for 6 months, then gone. Tried eliminating certain foods suggested by an acupuncturist, saw an allergist, had a blood test to determine the cause of hives – no luck! I (and my drs) are baffled – but could it be a build-up of gabapentin, but why go away for 6 months. I have cut back on how much I take a day, but am worried about stopping completely – I have nerve pain at night along with a lot of restlessness when I cut the dose at bedtime. Help?
Sally
Georgia
Thank you so very much for sharing your story. I too, have had chronic pain since 2012 and have been battling this to date. At first I used nothing in the way of pain medication. After several doctors, various physical therapies, ER visits, my Orthopedic specialist recommended I see a neurologist. To say I had no life was an understatement. After a battery of tests, all of which came back pretty much normal except for a bit of carpal tunnel, he started me on Gabapentin and a very lose dose of Klonopin. It has helped me tremendously, and I am very drug sensitive.
I still have mild pain, continue with physical therapy and do my best to keep the old version of me as productive as possible. There are good days and bad days, but without these two drugs I would have absolutely no life. Over time, I was able to reduce the dosage down to 300 mg daily of Gabapentin, but on occasion I need a bit more. What has worked amazingly well for me is I fill 300 mg and 100 mg to use 300 mg at night and 100 mg late in the afternoon early evening.
My pain is migratory, widespread, and feels as though my skin is being sandpapered off with intense burning as well, including my feet, which I soak in ice water off and on during the day.
It’s been a very long road back to a part of me. I am now 60, used to run 6 miles a day, garden, cook, clean and loved being very active. Thanks to my neurologist, my physical therapist I have reclaimed some of my old self. I garden a bit, cook a lot, and enjoy these moments as though they are a beacon of hope to continue and improve. I will not give up, and count each milestone as quite an achievement, though it be a small little thing such as lifting a 3 pound weight.
I can go on and on, but I wish to thank you again, and hope that others know that while there are risks to any drug, without this I would be able to do anything as I was bed ridden for almost a year, had total atrophy of my muscles, and so much more. My neurologist is very aware of the concern about addiction, and I am reminded by him with each visit that he will not let that happen to me.
Hopefully, this too helps someone else in our situation where I tried everything else prior to this and had absolutely no life.
All the best to all of us going through anything of this sort.
SJ
Davina
Louisiana
Thank you for writing this. after reading all of the bad stuff i was becoming anxious that my dr just started me on the Gabapentin. It was nice to read something good.
Teresa
Hi CKF, you need to have your blood glucose lower than 120 at all times. Even better fasting under 100 ( a non diabetic person has a blood glucose of 82-85 always). I would quit that fruit and all grains and starches. Go on a very low carb diet, moderate protein (too much protein raises bg). Concentrate on any type f moderate protein, cheese, olive oil, real butter, veggies grown above the ground, and for snacks, natural peanut butter, nuts and almond butter (none of these in excess). If you get you a1c down and glucose down you will stop having so much pain. I know this because I have type 2 diabetes. Also, ask your Dr for a RX of medical grade vitamins called “Metanx”, this helped me so much with nerve pain in my feet. You did not become a diabetic overnight. Those high blood sugars were already doing damage to every organ in your body, like your feet. good luck!
Penny
Preston
I’ve been on gabapentin for over a year now I’m now on 300mg 5x a day for nerve pain and back pain and it does help me function. But, I feel distant, my memory is not good and I feel constantly tired. I’m also on 8 codeine phosphate 30 mg tablets a day, which is also not good. I’m having an epidural in two weeks in my spine, so hopefully that will ease my pain. I would like to reduce or stop these tablets but don’t know how I can function without them.
Sonia
Texas
I’ve taken gabapentin for migraine prevention and nerve pain. It has a sedating effect that I find quite pleasant. Nevertheless, I experienced loss of balance and in general a drunk like feeling, that made me kind of slow and stupid.
I read the long term side effects and they look awful. But I guess all people are different.
Nick
Mill Bay, B.C. Canada
I have had for 3 years a severe skin ulcer on my upper arm from (several) fiddleback spider bites, which is enormous at about 7 inches in diameter and 3/8 of an inch deep, and subsequently I have a lot of exposed nerve fibers. It is extremely painful, but due to whatever reason doctors here are terrified of prescribing systemic opiate pain killers, so I also get relief from benzocaine containing creams. Since I have other conditions which impair my ability to heal, a graft is not advisable at this point as it would simply leave me with another wound to deal with,
Because of this, any subsequent relief has been from gabapantin… but I HATE the side effects, such as 3 or 4 second blackouts, or something similar to sleep epilepsy, dizziness etc.
I was on 1800 mg a day, but have cut down to about 900 and am having really unpleasant side effect from them like extremely severe neck and shoulder pain, dizziness, and other systemic pain and , again, even more blackouts.
I can’t find anywhere that has a recommended withdrawal regime, though, or even lists the withdrawal side effects, and I really need it. Anyone know where to look?
Gigi
Missouri
I have been on gabapentin for almost four years for neuropathy in my right leg due to a surgical complication. Even as a nurse I was so desperate for relief that I trusted the doctors in prescribing gabapentin off label and didn’t question dosage. This went on three years until I started researching and compiling a symptoms list of all the unusual experiences I was having, ie. blackouts, dizziness, severe lethargy, mood swings….
Armed with this list and my husband as a supporting “witness” we met with my neurologist, not the prescribing doctor, who listened and agreed that these were side effects of the medication, shocking! We agreed to a slow titration (cutting the dosage down by small amounts over a course of time) schedule over a six month period, which allowed me to cut my total dosage by 25%. After being on that dosage for six months I repeated the process again. I am now ready to start my 3rd cycle. Monitoring and recording is key in this process as well as communicating with your doctor. I also started exploring options outside of conventional medicine and have found the following very helpful in pain and emotional management; acupuncture, biofeedback, essential oils, mindfulness and don’t laugh but coloring or painting. I wish you luck and prayers in your journey,
Rachelle
New Jersey
I have been on Gralise (continuous release gabapentin) for about 9 months, during which time I’ve developed progressively worse arm pain. I assumed it was a worsening tendonitis, but now wonder if it’s the Gralise. To my shoulder and upper arm pain I added elbow and forearm pain, then wrist and hand. Could this be the medication?
DNT
Ontario
I am trying to come off it now and have to be hospitalized in order to do it. This has my life at a stop right now. They do not tell you all the side effects. Like blacking out and blood pressure dropping. I’ve almost died twice from trying to stop. Going to be admitted tomorrow to get off this. I originally was taking it for nerve pain…I’d rather have the nerve pain than the side effects of this. It is life or death at this point.
Lindsay
NJ
Gabapentin was prescribed to me for some nerve pain, which I later learned could be resolved through the right stretches and diet. I have scoliosis, and I may have to deal with neuropathy often, but I’ll never resort to Gabapentin again.
It’s been an awful 6 months of not sleeping, burning pain, anxiety attacks, depression, sudden weight loss, trembling, shaking, and headaches. My doctor keeps saying it will just go away, but I have been trying to withdraw carefully for 3 months, and even a small taper every two weeks starts these terrible withdrawl episodes. She told me there wouldn’t be any withdrawl! I feel truly addicted because around the same time everyday, I start getting panicky and in need of the next dose.
I was healthy and normal before this, and I regret ever taking this medication. It seems positive for some, but please beware, and if you feel good at first, just stay cautious. I was feeling great in the first month, and then suddenly, I didn’t sleep for over 3 days, hallucinated, lost touch with reality, lost memory of what I did only 10 minutes before, etc etc. Then going off the drug, withdrawl was 10x worse!
Joe
Maryland
I am taking 3200 mg of Gabapentin per day due to anxiety. It changed my life, I feel so good and sedated now. I tried other medications, but only Gabapentin works for me. I call it a miracle pill.
Frank
Seattle
I have been taking 900 to 1200 mgs of gabapentin once a day at bedtime for three and a half years with limited success in treating my spinal pain and insomnia. Then one morning I woke up in withdrawal and after reviewing my Medications it was obvious that the only med I was on that could possibly produce such a varied list of withdrawal symptoms was the gabapentin.
After doing my own research I was able to determine that gabapentin can produce multiple withdrawal symptoms that can vary from mild to intense, unrelenting, varied, hellish and in general very uncomfortable to tolerate and a challenge to live with while trying to taper off the drug. It’s especially galling to have to suffer this at the hands of a highly respected addiction specialist that assured me gabapentin did not cause withdrawal symptoms. Well folks I’m here to tell you he’s wrong as it is now a medical certainty that some people do develop withdrawal symptoms when even tapering off small amounts of the drug in their effort to get off it completely.
I guess that’s understandable when the experts admit they do not even understand how gabapentin works. Given that startling admission I’m no longer-surprised that the manufacturers of the FDA don’t understand how Gabapentin works nor are they able to explain what the drugs actions are. What a joke that even the chemists that created the drug and the government oversight department that is the pharmaceutical supervising and regulatory agency are unable to explain the drugs actions and why it is that some people get withdrawal symptoms while others do not. However it seems logical to assume that the higher the dose and the length of time a patient has been on the drug obviously affects how intense and varied the withdrawal symptoms are likely to be the longer one has been on the drug the longer the duration of the jones. I have read that that one year seems to be the time it takes from when a person starts their taper until the users brain calms down, sleep stabilizes, they regain their short term memory, they cease being restless, they make good decisions again, and they start to laugh and joy returns to their lives and they feel that they are finally (or at least most of the time) symptom are symptom free.
As for myself I have been able to taper down from 900 mgs once a day to a total of 500 mg taking it 4 time a day with 3/100 ,mg doses and one 200 mg dose at bed time. It has taken me about 8 weeks to get this far. Every time I lower the dose I’m Suffer a hellish withdrawal for about a week until my body adjust and I remain on that reduced dose for another week so my body has the chance to recover and my mind a week to prepare for the next battle. From here on out I’m guessing I’m going to have to reduce my dose in smaller increments as 100 mgs of 900 mg total daily dose is a lot less of a percentage drop than 100 mg of a 500 mg daily dose total. From what I have read they recommend 5% reductions after your body has recovered from the last dose reduction.
Don’t be discouraged just be persistent and stubborn, take it day to day and hopefully you have family, a girl friend/wife or at least some good friends that can and help you and support you through this terrible journey back to the world of the living.
If I can do this you can. In 2014 it took me a whole year to get free of and recover from a 25 year opiate habit that ended up with me detoxing from a daily dose of buprenorphine equal to 40 mg of oxycodone 5X a day , then in 2015 it took me another whole year to get free of benzodiazepine addiction with a daily dose of 15mg 4X a day and so far this year it’s taken me almost five months to reduce my dose of gabapentin by approximately 44%. By the time I get through this I’ll have been in withdrawal from one drug or another for the majority of the past three years.. The only reason I have been able to do this is because I am one of the most beautiful stubborn people you will ever meet and I put stubbornness to work for me. Also because I’m tired of the drugs controlling my life instead of the other way around, I have decided it’s ti me to take charge of my life, I want and need to be there for my daughter, grand children and my siblings, nieces and nephews to experience the last decade or two of my life living it clean and sober while traveling the world without enjoying the different cultures, meeting new people, sailing the tropics, living winters in a different country ever year, help my family and friends, maybe meeting a new misses (never say never) and never again wasting precious time worrying about running out of my medications.
Be kind to yourself, good luck with you quest, live in the moment one day at a time and peace be upon you.
Brian
New Bedford
What a ride my man…. I feel and hear you loud &clear God bless
Claudia
Pennsylvania
I was taking 300mg Gabapentin 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. Upon noticing side effects like dizziness, fatigue, memory problems and blurred vision, I called my doctor, who was unfortunately on vacation. The nurse at the office told me to just stop taking it. When I questioned ‘shouldn’t I taper off?’ She said “No, just stop taking it”. So I did. Big mistake. It has been 2 weeks now of pure dizziness, nausea has tapered off somewhat, but is still there. I am no longer sleeping 18-20 hours a day, which is an improvement. I did require a trip to the Emergency Room. The doctor there was appalled that I was given such a large dosage to start with. She also indicated that they have seen Gabapentin withdrawal before and it isn’t uncommon to have happen. An IV with anti-nausea meds was administered, she also put me back on 100mg Gabapentin 3 times a day for a week to help alleviate some of the symptoms and I now have a referal to the hospital balance clinic. I have been trapped at home for two weeks, my young daughters are helpful in making a sandwich or getting me a beverage-but they are scared. The 8 year old asks if I am ever going to get better. I don’t know what to tell her, as I don’t know.
Chris
Florida
I took my first 400 mg of gabapentin this morning. I’m supposed to take this three times a day. Let me tell you, this entire day has been one big blur. I feel like I’m sleep walking. I can’t remember driving my 8 year old home from school and that scares the heck out of me. I was prescribed the gabapentin for sciatic nerve pain related to a car accident. I’ll take the pain. It didn’t help by the way but to be fair, I’m sure I have to take more to notice. But I like being “with it” mentally so I’m off this stuff. Just wanted to vent. Peace out.
Lem
Illinois
I was told by my neurologist to take gabapentin every as a preventive measure for nervous pain and fibromyalgia.
I took 300mg once daily for about 6 days; the back pain, joint stiffness, headaches, swollen fingers, and serve heartburn is not worth it!!!
I stop taking gabapentin!
Between the joint pain and back pain I was bably able to get out of bed.
I was sick all day today, Mother’s Day, I weren’t able to do anything.
Oh, I did mention the pain it cause in my chest and throat from the reflux!
I will talk to my doctor later today.
Lem
Illinois
I wonder if anyone can tell me if the reflux and the other conditions I mentioned will resolve themselves after stopping the gabapentin?
Thanks
Patsy
Atlanta, Ga
I have taken gabapentin for 10 plus years and I wish I hadn’t. My memory has suddenly gone. I don’the know if it is due to gabapentin but have a feeling it is. The feelings you are now having as you start taking gabapentin are what I experienced also. Try taking it only at night for a few days. Good luck.
Bee
alabama
Does taking it at night help? I have been on it for about 9 months and notices changes in my mood and have depression and just low negative thoughts; which I have never had before. It does wonders for my back pain, but I hate feeling this way. If taking it at night will help…please advise. Otherwise I am going to wean myself off of it. Thanks for your help.
Marlene
Cape Coral fl.
I am really scared to continue with this drug. Although I have bad joint pain from Lyme disease. I do take hydro codon but know it’s addictive . I thought of asking for Aderall heard it might help me. Any suggestions?
Tina
Mexico
Have been taking Gabapentin (generic at about a third the price of Neurontin) for a few years for a condition called Brachial Radial Pruritus. Is the only thing that works. 400 mg. before bed when condition flares up, which is only for about 4 months a year (I know, that sounds weird, but google the condition if you’re curious), and not all the time. I find I can take it when I need it, not take it when I have no symptoms. Have not noticed any ill effects except some grogginess in the morning. I actually wish it caused me weight gain- I’m way too skinny!
Sorry to hear of all the folks who have had such terrible reactions to this drug. At one point a doctor suggested I switch to Lyrica, which he described as the “new improved Neurontin”. I took it for a week and it made me feel so sick I spent the next week weaning myself off it. Worst nausea I have ever experienced, chills, uncontrollable shaking, literally felt like I was dying.
So, gabapentin works for me with no evil side effects.
And reading some of these posts, I can’t believe the potpourri of drugs so many people seem to take! Doctors are extremely useful sometimes, but people, try to find more natural ways to deal with your health. Diet, vitamins, herbs, exercise. And don’t take whatever your dr. prescribes without doing your own research into the possible effects of those drugs, because your doctor won’t tell you (I actually think they don’t know).
Johnny
TX-Texas
I am taking five 800 mg Gabapentin a day two in the morning and 3 at night I have notice I am having a hard time staying awake, and I have had fluid weeping from my ears while sleeping, and dizziness.
John
Tulsa, OK
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a HORRIBLE drug regarding potential side effects, some of whicx can be life threatening. In fact, the propensity for Dr’s to prescribe it more & more to avoid prescribing hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc, to appease the governments ‘opioid crackdown’ is reprehensible in my humble opinion. Is there an opioid abuse problem in the US? Certainly, as it is with many things in this country. But our government seems to be ok with trading in a long time used, relatively low side effect drug like Hydrocodone that’s easily monitored with periodic drug screening, for some other drug related problems (like this one has) with a gauntlet of almost certain future perhaps long term serious side effects.
That being said, to address the original question above about this drug being used for insomnia, I personally don’t know why it would be prescribed for that since it’s listed as one of the side effects. However, knowing I have severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, i.e. crappy lungs prone to infections, etc) my Dr. prescribed gabapentin for some rib pain to help me be able to cough so I can keep my lungs clear, which in my case is imperative, and among the side effects unbelievably is (of all things) flu-like symptoms, so go figure. I ALWAYS educate myself on anything and everything chemical in nature Dr’s suggest I put in my body, and this one is particularly scary from a side effect standpoint. Personally, the side effect that stands out the most with me is extreme dizziness accompanied with both insomnia some nights, while others, long bouts of sleep (14hrs+ straight through… my norm is around 5-6hrs per might).
I’ve also experienced some heavy mucous production, cold/flu-like symptoms (dangerous with my COPD), moodiness, lack of appetite, headaches, repeated rapid uncontrollable eye movements and a bit of blurry vision… ALL since I started gabapentin just 3 short weeks ago. Yes I’ve called & talked with my Dr’s office about it and we’re sticking with it until the 1 month mark to see if these, et al side effects subside. If not, you can believe I’ll be stopping this drug and for those that aren’t sure how to stop it DO NOT STOP THIS DRUG COLD! Call your Dr and ask his advice. If you don’t want to do that for whatever reason taper off in the same fashion your Dr should’ve had you begin it only backwards. If you don’t remember how that was & can’t, or refuse to, call him at minimum taper by cutting the dosage by 1 capsule/tablet for a 7-day period (if you’re taking multiple capsules per dose). If you’re only taking one capsule/tablet daily then PLEASE call your Dr and let them know you’re planning on stopping this drug and request his advice how.
Good luck and good health to you all!
(a list of SOME side effects of Gabapentin per http://www.drugs.com/sfx/gabapentin-side-effects.html)
*again, this is only a PARTIAL list…
Applies to gabapentin: oral capsule, oral solution, oral suspension, oral tablet. In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by gabapentin. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.
Severity: Major
You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking gabapentin:
More common
Clumsiness or unsteadiness
continuous, uncontrolled, back-and-forth, or rolling eye movements
More common in children
Aggressive behavior or other behavior problems
anxiety
concentration problems and change in school performance
crying
depression
false sense of well-being
hyperactivity or increase in body movements
rapidly changing moods
reacting too quickly, too emotional, or overreacting
restlessness
suspiciousness or distrust
Less common
Black, tarry stools
chest pain
chills
cough
depression, irritability, or other mood or mental changes
fever
loss of memory
pain or swelling in the arms or legs
painful or difficult urination
shortness of breath
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swollen glands
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
clay-colored stools
coma
confusion
convulsions
dark urine
decreased urine output
diarrhea
dizziness
fast or irregular heartbeat
headache
increased thirst
itching or skin rash
joint pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of appetite
muscle ache or pain
nausea
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
unpleasant breath odor
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Severity: Minor
Some of the side effects that can occur with gabapentin may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:
More common
Blurred vision
cold or flu-like symptoms
delusions
dementia
hoarseness
lack or loss of strength
lower back or side pain
swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
trembling or shaking
Less common or rare
Accidental injury
appetite increased
back pain
bloated or full feeling
body aches or pain
burning, dry, or itching eyes
change in vision
change in walking and balance
clumsiness or unsteadiness
congestion
constipation
cough producing mucus
decrease in sexual desire or ability
difficulty with breathing
dryness of the mouth or throat
earache
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
excessive tearing
eye discharge
feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheadedness
feeling of warmth or heat
flushed, dry skin
flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
frequent urination
fruit-like breath odor
impaired vision
incoordination
increased hunger
increased sensitivity to pain
increased sensitivity to touch
increased thirst
indigestion
noise in the ears
pain, redness, rash, swelling, or bleeding where the skin is rubbed off
passing gas
redness or swelling in the ear
redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
runny nose
sneezing
sweating
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
tingling in the hands and feet
trouble sleeping
trouble swallowing
trouble thinking
twitching
unexplained weight loss
voice changes
vomiting
weakness or loss of strength
weight gain
etc…
Laurie
Canada
I have only been on gabapentin for a few months for CT. Sunday I decided I wanted to stop cold turkey as it wasn’t doing anything for me except making me forget and very irritable. Today, Wednesday I am back on the darn drug as the side effects are like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. I’m scared I will have to take this drug just so I don’t have to experience the withdrawls I was going through. Anyone come right off the drug and can tell me how I can do it? I am taking 1200mg daily
Mitts doctor
Texas
I took gabapentin for about a week for nerve pain from lumbar stenosis nerve damage. I didn’t read side effects, but I’m thankful because this way I know my side effects from hell aren’t self fulfilled prophecies or that I was looking for any side effects. 300 mg 3xs a day may have helped the pain but what good is that if I’m six feet under.
One day I came home from visiting my mom & step dad – they are like my best friends. I always enjoy them. I noticed as I talked with them I began becoming so so down like a dark curtain was blocking the light. Arriving home I laid in my bed and sobbed uncontrollably. I’m not a crier. I just wanted to die. I cried out for God to help me.
(I’ve tried to kill myself 3 times in my life at 14, 19, 23 always with pills but it never worked. I never even told anyone or left a note, I’d just wake up & go on living. I never even spoke of it or went to a hospital. Well, I’m 50 now & I have been saved by the grace of God. He opened my eyes My death would caused horrific pain to my loved ones. I realized this after experiencing the deaths of very close loved ones.)
As I laid there crying like never before I began analyzing Nothing had changed my suicidal tendencies (and I was really gonna do it. I won’t bounce back like when I was young). I begged God please save me. My mom & kids need me. They love me. Suddenly the new drug Gabapentin popped into my head
I stopped cold turkey but I only took it for a week. Several drugs have caused problems: anaphylaxis, mood swings, psychosis – but Gabapentin is the worst. It also caused ringing in my ears, nausea, diarrhea , tight chest, difficulty breathing, & gained 10 lbs and was still gaining after I stopped. All the side effects lasted after I stopped. BUT the suicidal ideations left the next day.
We must get the word out that this is some awful “medicine’ Tell your doctors if you notice a change emotionally/physically, and if the doc doesn’t listen be your own advocate. Sometimes we only realize and have empathy when we’ve gone thru it.
And doctors are now limited in their choices. It’s not their fault. It’s the change in the law thinking opioids will kill us in the long run but giving Gabapentin that can kill you faster than anyone knows. These laws make no sense, We’re in pain, and we just want our life back. We don’t want to be high. We want to walk, bend, workout, make love, spring clean. My God we deserve to move around on our legs without terrifying pain.
Dianne
Georgia
Hi,
I have been taking this for pain. No warnings from doctor. 600 mg 5 tablets a day. My legs feel like jello. I have bad memory and coordination. It does help with pain but that stops working after awhile for me. I have bad jerking in legs and hands. I am getting off this after finding out it has much more serious permanent side effects. I caution everyone to really check this out further before using this. Try to research and find a better option. I have been reading some books on amino acids and how important they are. My books are on diet, addiction, mood problems, medications and amino acids. Some are by Julia Ross, Charles Gant, and Hyla Cass. Please Check into this.
Brian
Magalia , Calif
I had tkr and was prescribed Hydrocodone…. 2 months later I realized that I had to get off it, I did, cold. and the withdrawal was not good.. I was put on Gabapentin…. after 2 weeks my joints were noticeably stiffer. Tho I had barely any pain I was all so stiff … hard to want to walk..
So I looked this up and found that Gabapentin is addictive and one side effect I joint stiffness and muscles too..
Blimey, now I have to get off these pills……………. so tomorrow I will cut the dose in half…
Here I go again… Yuk.
Harold
Albuquerque
I started taking gabapentin about a month ago. Now my coordination is shot. I’m going to stop taking this drug because I have gotten no benefit from it at all. However no one seems to recommend how you should taper off.
Ryan
UK
Interesting, i have been taking Gabapentin for 3 weeks now, again, the moment i started taking this for PHN after Shingles i felt like this was my saviour, i slept like a baby, no pain – the joy!!
Now, I’ve been back to work for 4 days since 6 weeks off, i have forgotten names, where I’ve parked my car and best of all i put an ID card in an ATM machine and wondered why i didn’t get any money!
I can feel my head suddenly becoming fuzzy and an episode of forgetfulness kind of plays out in front of me without me having any power over it!
I am currently taking 900mg per day spread 3 ways.
Wut
Ohio
I doubt it
Kirk
SoCali
I have been taking Gabapentin for almost 2 years. I had a very severe case of shingles which left nerve damage on my left shoulder going up my neck and down to my pectoral. The pain is like someone blowing out a match and touching it to my skin; little electric shocks like watching lightning storms from above moving across Nebraska; and like little fire ants stinging. Of course when I put a shirt on…. fogeddaboudit!!. I wake up in the morning with this pain, and I take two 300 mg caps and two Ibuprofen, and in about an hour the pain fades away. I will feel the fireworks starting around noon and take a couple more, then maybe around dinner I will take the last 2. Some days more, depending on how active it is. I do not take any before bed time.
Side effects must be the reason for my weight gain of 15 pounds in the last 2 years. I am 6 foot and 66 years of age. Sometimes I find myself dozing, with my head hanging down to my chest at my desk at work. My ears are ringing pretty good right now, so I do have the tinnitus, and lately I have had fluid weeping from my ears while sleeping, which I read is a side effect along with the hundreds listed. Emotionally and mentally I do not feel any side effects.
The pain is still there in the morning, and I have read that the neuropathy from shingles can last for 3 years. After reading all of the horrendous side effects on this blog, I think I will start taking 1 capsule rather than two and see the effects. I will let you all know.
irene
glasgow
me too, I have had so many episodes of forgetfulness including forgetting my grandchildrens names its so frightening.
sam
missouri
I have been taking gabapentin for three weeks and am having the worst bouts of constipation I have ever endured in my life. Has anyone else had similar side effects? I am paraplegic and it’s tearing me up. Last episode took miralax, no effect, took mag citrate, it finally took 4 dulcolax tabs. Got straightened out and week later stopped up again.
Steven
Oregon
I also had constipation with gabapentin. I took 300 mg daily for almost a month but then started having constipation. I dropped it to 100 mg but still had problems, as well as anxiety and sleepiness. I quit taking it. Some of us are very susceptible to constipation with any prescription pain med, and I wish doctors would pay more attention to that.
Renee
Well I have been taking gabapenton for years, always thought the things I am suffering was related to my cervical myolopothy. Now just reading and realizing that a lot of things I am suffering from could and are side effects, to gabapenton.
This is sad. And yeah nobody should take this drug off label or ever, the side affects aren’t worth it. And sadly to say that I didn’t listen to other people whom where on it, and stopped.
Well they still have problems, and even lingering problems from lasting side effects.
Just don’t ever take this stuff!
I happen to have all side effects, including the rare ones.
And I am health conscious.
Ruth
Ca
I’ve only been on this 1 week 100 mgs a day for 3 days then started increasing to 200 mgs. At that point I started waking up with horrible anxiety, shoulders shaking and skin crawling. I feel a terrible fear all day long. I am stopping it. I can not function. Can’t leave my house. I’m hoping the suffering is of short duration. Was supposed to help nerve pain. I have 10X more mental and emotional pain. Don’t take this if you have the slightest bit of anxiety to begin with! I feel like I’m being mentally tortured!
Shelley
OR
I’ve been taking Gabapentin 300 mg 3X daily for a few weeks now. I feel my behavior has worsened. I’m trigger happy with my tongue…easily provoked and loose with the truth…ready to pounce on anyone who pushes my buttons. I’ve had to keep that in check over the years anyway, but since taking this medication, I feel powerless to control my behavior. It’s making relationships of all kinds very difficult. I may end up losing my job if I can’t get this under control.
I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet which is why I’m taking it at all. Maybe I need to find a different line of work…
Lisa
Ohio
My husband took his first tablet (300 mg.) last night. He went to a pain management doctor with possible nerve pain from a hernia operation 3 months ago. The side effects from just one dose included headache, nausea, feeling disconnected, etc. Many describe same symptoms here. He is taking the 89 pills to police station to be disposed of. He said he is not willing to suffer the side effects and can not imagine swallowing another dose. It was going to be 300 mg day for 5 days, then 300 mg twice for 5 days, then 3 times a day after that. He would rather be in pain than this…
Judy
Melbourne
I have been prescribed for severe hot flushes. I can’t take HRT, or anything with phytosoy as I have had Oestrogen based breast cancer 4 years ago. I was on HRT when cancer diagnosed.
I also have had severe depression, diagnosed as chronic, and have had one suicide attempt. I am on Exlaxine, 150, weaned down from 300 for 6 months now.
I was told to start with 100, then increase to 200mg after 2 nights. Then to 300mg.
I am not going to take as I will not risk my mental health balance, or taking a drug that is addictive .
sharon
-
Everything you have said applies to me. Had breast cancer 4 years ago. Tried various drugs for hot flushes and on gabapentin now. It helps but I am suffering with severe stiffness in my fingers and hands. I take various drugs but this has only happened in last week. Convinced its these pills. Gonna come off them. Its scary.
Jeralee
Az
OMG this is me too. I just started taking it. I am getting weird joint pain in areas I have never hurt before. And my hands feel so weird. They are stiff and hurt and feel week. It is even hard for me to press on the keyboard. It is so weird. I took 1 pill 4 days ago and felt like something heavy was on my chest and had extreme chest pain with weird rotating pain throughout my body.
I took 1 pill again 2 days later and wasn’t so bad. I took it again today and now it is my hands and the weird pain. This stuff scares me. I am supposed to take 3 pills a day and this is happening only with one pill. I think it is also making me have weird dreams and 2 times while awake and starting to fall asleep I swear I heard a voice speak to me. I’ve never had these things happen before.
Terry Graedon
Get in touch with the prescribing physician to report your reactions. S/He may have some advice for you, and at least should know if you won’t be able to take it.
Helsa
California
I have pain in my hands too! Some time my hands just feel puffy, sometimes they hurt. My muscles are starting to hurt all over. My legs have swollen and I’m having pain in my feet. Walking fast feels like I’m wearing cement boots. This medicine is awful.
Garnella T.
MASSACHUSETTS
Believe me, your husband is being wise not to take any more of this horrible drug. I have been on it for two or more years for restless leg. Going off of the drug I believe is causing my symptoms that are like a living hell.
gail
Im trying to go down from 400 mgs 4 x daily to 300 mgs daily and the doctor said just stop the 400 and go to the 300 it would be alright cause I have not been on the 400 but a month well let me tell you im having terrible panic attacks I can’t brethe and my head is killing me so I have started taking 2 of the 400 and 2 of the 300 for a week then Im going to 1 400 and 3 of the 300 for a week then go to all 300. this sucks I never thought that this med was like this
Steve
I cant remember
I’m on over 3600 ,Wow I thought this was my saving grace but, in the last six months I lost 3 jobs , I replaced 4 mg of Xanax and for this so called “non-narcotic”, so I know what memory loss is but, not like this I noticed a disconnect
in my mind to ware I can’t even attempt to retrace my steps or sit and ponder a important situation because it feels like a circuit that thrived is now dead , in in my early thirties I,thrived in college, got a into a lucrative business sold it because of stress and , anxiety, now I watch it grow X 10 fold . As I look at the bigger picture world today like proabition in th 20″s is a medicated society , the answer is a pill and your not an addict because you get it from a person who we call , a doctor
gail
sc
How do you wean off of this med. without suffering?
Erica
Wow. I have a Kidney Stone Disease with a damaged Urter. My nerves on my left side are so bad & I have HORRIBLE restless legs. I can’t sleep at night. I have Pain Medication that helps to a point, but I’m only 35 & I do not wanna be on that forever. I wanna have kids….so I was talking to my doctor about it & she proscribed this medication, but after reading all of this, I’m definitely not going to take it cuz it sounds like another drug I would just have to be weened off…..am I right?? Has anyone taken anything else along these lines that has actually helped & not made you a crazy person, like how I’m feeling?!! I need sleep! Thanks So Much
Kristy
Yes I’m pregnant now and trying to taper off and it’s horrible. Terrible anxiety enough to be hospitalized. Granted I have the stress of finding out I was pregnant adding to it but I blame gabapentin. I was prescribed it for restless legs and told numerous time it was non addicting and no withdrawal from two doctors and a pharmacist. What a joke stay away
Phyyllis
SC
Yes I had good results taking Gabapentin. The only side effect I had was I would inadvertibly say the wrong word. Off the wall like mean to say dog and say house. A small price to pay considering gabapentin helped with the nerve pain in my neck. As well as other pain, The side effect from getting off of them was flu like symptoms. I was first given this drug before an out patient procedure, pain block. Which was to stop the communication from my brain to my arm. Soon after administering the Gabapentin my pain stopped (prior to the actual pain block procedure. After discussing this with the antistesiologist he explained that gabapentin was used for this type of pain, However, a few years later Phifer was sued for promoting gabapentin for pain. The FDA had not approved it for pain so it was illegal to promote it for pain. They tried to get me to go along with the lawsuit. I declined because it was the best cure I had encountered. For some reason when I would get better I stopped taking it only to realize years later how much it helped me. It does make you gain weight.
Anna
Wi
I started taking this 3 days ago for severe nerve pain right above where the neck connects to the skull. It feels like it is under the skull but it isn’t. It got s bad I worried that I might have a tumor in my skull. It is actually a pinched nerve probably caused by the arthritis in my neck. When starting the drug the 1st day, I felt drunk (for lack of a better word). I had not slept the previous night so it knocked me out.
I have trouble sleeping so, it is nice that I can sleep well and when ever I want since taking this.
I started taking 1- 300mg pill at night. Today I added one during the day.
My brother in law has been on this drug for years. He said over time you get used to the drug and don’t feel as groggy.
It has not done anything for the pain yet, but I have read it can take a week or more to start working. If it does stop the pain and the horrible restless leg that I often suffer from, it is worth the risks.
I am hoping that my side effects stay at a minimum. Now that I am not feel the “drunk” feeling as bad as I did, I like the feeling. It is kinda like drinking a glass of wine (very relaxing). I am disabled so, I do not have to worry about work.
Bobbie
California
I take Gabapentin and have nothing but relief from restless legs and nerve pain from MS. Everyone is different. I’m glad I can take this without the problems I’m reading here.
George
Southern California
I have very painful back problems, and what is worse is the left leg is numb and has a twitch to it. It also feels very weak. I took this drug for 3 days and now my leg and the pain there is gone. Still have some back pain, but the pain that I felt in my leg was so bad I could hardly walk.
I too am worried about side effects. But this drug has stopped unbearable pain. So, I guess I will keep taking it. If I forget things or am in a daze, that is better than the pain I had. I don’t have any side effects yet.
Christopher
Have you ever taken Trazadone for sleep? I would have say it works good for me. The doctor also prescribed Seroquil and it was way too strong. I had to physically lift legs to the floor the next morning to get out of bed, not to mention i had crazy off the wall dreams. For sleep i would recommend good old fashioned Benadryl. I have been on Gabapentin 100mg 3x a day for a month now and it has helped my anxiety, depression and nerve pain in my shoulder/back. Be careful with opiates, although i wish my doctor would prescribe me something opiate based for my pain but he is hesitant because my history of abuse “was on methadone for 12 years.” Im 38 and just want to live the life i once had! Anyways i wish you the best and hope that my advise has helped you. Btw, im not a doctor just a human being sharing my thoughts. Take care
Mary
South
I am 62 years old and have suffered with restless legs syndrome since birth. Sometimes getting up and walking helps. Elevating my legs on a pillow did not help. Only two things help me. One–I must always keep my legs warm with socks, extra blanket, and pajama bottoms; even though I do not feel cold. Two–the only drug that works for me is zanaflex. Hope you feel better.
Linda
Hollywood, fl
I am taking just 1 300 mg Gabapenin about 3 pm and 1 300 mg at bedtime …..as I suffer from insomnia and burning feet. It seemed to work fine, including lowering the volume of the 12 Year old tinnitus condition I have. Then, in about 2 weeks of this, I noticed I was waking with an incredibly stiff neck after about 2 weeks, and an arthritic pain in my ankle going up my shin bone too. I have been waking in the middle of the night with sheet soaking night sweats (I am post menopausal) and I have to take Xanax to go back to sleep. I see some people are experiencing arthritis like pain, but what about this night sweat condition? My doc wants me to take 2 300 mgs at bedtime now, so I sleep longer through the night and don’t wake up at 3am & have to take the Xanax to finish my night’s sleep. After reading all these posts, I’m thinking the Xanax is less harmful than the Gabapenin! Thoughts?
Garnella T.
MASSACHUSETTS
Erica, I also have horrible restless legs, so I can sympathize. I was given Gabapentin for this. I wish I had never taken that drug. I am no on Robinthol (spelling?),and this drug is a big help. I cannot guarantee that it will help you, however, or that you won’t have any side effects. So I would suggest that you talk to your doctor.
plevi
I’ve been taking this med for serious restless leg syndrome for half a year (the sleep specialist prescribed it after the dopamine agonist stopped working). This is the only available medication that helps now. However, it makes me anxious and extremely tired at the same time. Before taking Gabapentin I’d never had the anxiety, only the fatigue-probably because of the RLS. When I take this drug in the evening, my next day is ruined.
beware of this drug those who can
Mike
Maine
So about 5 days ago I began the Gabapentin 300mg have taken 8 pills in the 5 days (taper up I guess). Prescribed for cervical Spine Radialsulpy C7 disc hernia nerve pain. The process is. 1 -300mg pill @ bedtime for two days ( I messed up and went 3 days) then 1-300mg twice a day for two days then 1-300mg 3 times a day. First pill of the 3 xs a day and that where I didn’t want to take any more just didn’t feel right at all last night palpitations and strange sensations all over my body. Of course this happens on a weekend. So all of that aside. Where can I find out if I have already taken enough that I would require a taper or if I can quit it altogether. Haven’t taken any since my 6am dose and would have taken 1 at 2pm and again at 10 pm. Any advice or link to info. Thanks in advance.
Traci H
mobile al.
Thanks for sharing I’m so sorry for your loss.
Sue
Corvallis, OR
My husband has been on Gabapentin. for Anxiety/Depression for over 3 years now….they started him on this to get him off the Benzos he had been on 20 years. While it seemed to help in the beginning they kept having to increase the amount and is currently on 2700/day(900×3) Way too much. He has changed so much – cries hysterically, moods swings, goes from insomnia to sleep deprivation, tremors,blurred vision, talks about suicide all the time and so on and so on…..he is so discouraged but doc gave him okay to start the gradual decline….anybody have a similar situation….if the FDA has not okayed it for this why do docs prescribe it….I am ready to complain to the drug company!!! He and I just wan this life back….laying in bed 85% of the time is not helpful.
Susan
Milton, FL
My boyfriend was prescribed gabapentin for his diabetic neuropathy. I can see now that he became more withdrawn and one evening left the house without my knowledge and went to the hospital where they prescribed zoloft and counseling the following Monday. He committed suicide Saturday morning. Should I have known, been told by his doctor, the side effects of gabapentin I could have done something to prevent his death.
Traci H
mobile al.
Thanks for sharing I’m so sorry for your loss.
TruthSerum
USA
I know it feels like you could have been able to do something, if only you had known. It’s so difficult when we are able to look backwards in time and see things which we wish we could have changed and then tell ourselves that we could have if only some slight thing were different. It’s not fair to burden yourself with that sort of pain. The fact that you are still trying to save him in your mind shows how much you DO care. IF it had been at all possible, you would have done anything and everything possible.
It sounds as though in your boyfriend’s case even if he were checked into a hospital it might have been incredibly difficult for anybody to prevent the unfortunate outcome. BOTH of the medications which were given to him have the potential terrible side effects of suicidality. Many people don’t fully understand what that means as far as a side effect. It doesn’t always come on slowly as far as thoughts about suicide. There can be a side effect of depression, but the suicidality can be so quick and so overwhelming that it can cause a person to all of the sudden and uncontrollably decide that they no longer want to be alive. A friend of mine experienced it while driving and steered his truck off the highway down into a ditch. He was grateful there weren’t any trees or other solid objects around for him to steer into. He did slam his head into the steering wheel though and when he woke up and remembered all of the thoughts that had gone through his head and the accompanying feelings to put him in the ditch he called the doctor’s office to demand to be taken off of the medication before he called for help with his accident.
It was incredibly reckless for anybody to give your boyfriend a second prescription without first talking with him and finding out what was going on, his history and figuring out if he were experiencing effects from his medication, was reacting to living with a chronic health condition and/or other life issues, or if other things were affecting him. I am so sorry for your loss. I know it is something you won’t ever forget, but I do hope that you won’t carry any sort of guilt or remorse from the situation.
Lynn
Mobile, Al.
I have been on gabapentin 800 mg 3 x daily for about 13 years for back issues, spinal problems,pain problems in general. When I first started taking them they worked great really good except for a tremendous amount of weight gain like close to 100 pounds!
As time has gone on I have noticed my life has changed so much. I have developed issues with not trusting people having a feeling as if people are out to get me in some way, random weird thoughts will just pop into my mind. I never want to go anywhere or do anything except sit in my recliner and watch tv.
I feel a nervous wreck sometimes if it’s been awhile since I have taken one. I have an overwhelming feeling sometimes, like a flash in my mind of suicidal thoughts… my mind feels scrambled, very hard to explain.
Hard to tell for sure that it’s only the neurontin doing it because I take other medicine as well but honestly do believe it’s the main culprit. I have zero energy and have to take medicine for that as well.
My pain is so unbearable sometimes that I am so afraid to get off of them but yet have been on them so long I am afraid I will be worse. :(
I am gonna attempt to come off of them and see how I am then, if I have more energy, if thoughts go away etc.
I really feel like I am crazy sometimes even though I know I am not after researching the gaba.
I am also praying that I will lose weight I am 44 years old and weighing at around 250 pounds! I look horrible and don’t want anyone to see my pictures or see me period.
I will keep you all in my prayers as I know all of us on here have to be suffering to even have to take it in the first place!
Mike
boston
I sometimes wonder if most of the people that post here do so because they are experiencing negative side effects. With that, here’s my two cents.
I’ve been struggling with nerve pain for 2-3 years in multiple locations (lower back, pelvic floor, feet, hands) and nothing really helped except icing (I refuse any opiates but do use a lot of NSAIDS). I started taking gabapentin about 6 months ago. I started at 300mg/day (3x100mg) for the first 2-3 months and noticed a mild improvement and no observable side effects. I then titrated up to 600 mg/day ( 3x200mg) and saw additional improvement with still no side effects. It’s not a cure but so far it’s helping. I may try to go a little higher next time I talk to my PCP but so far this drug seems to be working for me.
Jody
Kingston,on
Hi ??
I was just wondering if u managed to come off the gaba, I felt so bad after I read your comment , I am currently taking them and the only thing that has happened is I’ve gained 60 pounds and I’m not happy about it and I’m also 44 ,,,but if I forget to take them by the end of the day I’m sweating like a pig and vomitting so I’ve decided to come off of them cuz they really don’t help with my pain and I’ve been reading so many negative things about them ,,I really hope your ok
Amanda
Seaford,UK
Hi everyone,
I am currently waiting for the results of an MRI for what could be a bulged or herniated disc in my lower spine. This has now caused unbearable nerve and muscle pain down my right leg which when standing increases rapidly with a numbness in the base of my foot and this radiates from my whole foot up my ankle the longer i stand or walk. This whole problem started 4 weeks ago and I’ve already started to realise that there is no quick answer to fix it.
I have only been on the Gabapentin for just 2 weeks on an increased dose from 1x300mg 3times a day increasing gradually to 2x300mg 3 times daily. I feel a 10-20% increase in pain sitting and laying down but all pain returns rapidly as I stand and walk. Within 2 minutes the pain is severe. I have seen an ESP spine physiotherapist who says cannot be treated until the pain is managed and MRI results back. She advises that this condition, depending on severity could last between 6-12 wks with mediacation and physio. If this doesn’t work after that then possibly steroid Injections if suitable, last option is surgery.
Hope this helps somebody.
Lesle
Los Angeles, US
Amanda, Your description is exactly what my mom has had except she is 80 and could not articulate her pain. We struggled with a diagnosis and a neurologist put her on Gralise which is the same as gabapentin but time released. Now I understand what she was trying to describe. Her CT shows a spine issue, can’t recall if it’s bulge or compression, which causes the nerve pain, exactly as you describe. The gralise/gabapentin seems to be causing confusion, amnesia and occasionally hostility, so I am thinking maybe we should try another round of doctors to evaluate getting her off the drug and find another way to manage the pain but her pain was so extreme that she couldn’t sleep or rest or stay still and she has a very high pain tolerance (another story).
I haven’t heard of an ESP Spine physiotherapist. I’ll have to research what that means. Your post has helped me understand what is wrong with my mother which is important because her confusion makes her dependent on my being able to help her verbalize her needs. (I’m her caregiver.) thank you for your post. I hope you may update if you learn more or find a treatment.
My mom is on 3×600 once per day of Gralise because it is active for 24 hours. It stopped extreme intractable pain. Now she doesn’t recall the pain after 3 years but the amnesia is disturbing. Long term memory is usually the last thing to go in older people. We haven’t found other causes of memory loss and she is unwilling to discuss and pursue diagnosis. I don’t insist because of the lack of viable treatments.
You’ve helped me a lot to understand her pain and how it relates to her spine issue.
Reg
Australia
Hi Amanda.
I experienced the same nerve pain that you describe a few years ago, I have had back pain for years due to a slipped disc when I was 18. I lived with this not having any option really. Then 7 or 8 years ago I developed sciatica, a pain I just could not bare, it shot down my left leg like a million volts of electricity. I went to see a doctor and she prescribed a medication I was already taking for a dislocated knee accident. So I was already taking what she prescribed and still had the pain, when I questioned this I was told there was nothing she could do. I went home still in excruciating pain, couldn’t sleep, sit, stand or lie down, nothing eased my pain. I was so bad I was contemplating suicide, I couldn’t see any other way to be free from pain. Then I remembered a when I worked in a large shopping centre, there was a Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncture Practice. I rang them and was told they could help me. I went for a course of 6 treatments, the first didn’t seem to do a thing and hurt like mad, the second hurt but not as much, by the third and fourth I felt miles better and by the 5th and 6th I was pain free and have been ever since. I was a real sceptic about acupuncture, it’s all hokum I used to say. I’m now one of the converted, it was amazing. Just a thought if you feel like an alternative to surgery. I hope your herniated disc is sorted real soon.
Reg from Oz.
Mary
Canada
If I had known before what GABAPENTIN side effects are. I never. Never. Would have taken it. Swollen leg foot ankle. Pain galore.
michael
diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy
have been on gabapentin for 2 months it has cut night time pain down to almost bearable…. My main problem is falling asleep and staying asleep without taking a sleep aid. OTC sleep aid safe to mild . Currently using prescription meds and the next day hang overs are severe . What is the best plan to sleep?
JS
My advice to anyone with severe and persistent insomnia is to perfect your sleep hygiene and try cognitive behavioral therapies first, before drugs. I can’t urge this strongly enough. Most people with insomnia will get better with nonpharmaceutical therapies.
Of course some of us (self included) do not respond to those treatments and end up on the merry-go-round of nasty drug trials. It’s not fun – they’re all wretched and in my experience work only minimally and temporarily before you have to withdraw from them and try something else. If that’s your situation you have company in me and I feel for you. But if you haven’t tried nonpharmaceutical treatment yet, please do.
That said, since nonpharmaceutical didn’t work for me I have had many drug trials, the most recent of which was gabapentin. I gained 7 lbs. immediately but decided I could live with that. However, after about 4 weeks, a very bad depression set in and I’m not going to be able to live with that. I already had mild depressive symptoms from the insomnia, but I was getting by.
Now I’m having great difficulty concentrating and I feel very blue all the time. My emotions are hard to control and I cry easily and often. Worse, I’m not getting any relief from the insomnia any more either (it helped at first), so now I have to taper off. I will say one positive thing about gabapentin – I got instant and complete relief from peri-menopausal hot flashes. But I’d rather have the hot flashes back than continue with this drug.
Diana
Sound beach N.Y
I’m going bald. Anyone else experiencing this also
Cynthia
I have been on gabapentin, 200 mg 3x day, for 6 weeks. I noticed my hair loss about 2 weeks ago. I thought the hair loss was from voltaren topical naproxin cream ( a published side effect). I discontinued the use of the voltaren, but hair loss, esp. Thinning, has continued. I am a 64 year old female. Any insiggts?
Deb B
It’s likely our age….not the drug. I’m in menopause and my hair is thinning more now….so most likely that’s the cause I bet.
Teresa
Cynthia, I am on 2.800 mg a day and it caused me to have hair loss also. It’s not just your age
Marsha
Wisconsin
I have experienced hair loss off and on since I started taking neurontin many years ago. My dermatologist says there’s no way to know if it’s the gaba or just normal female-pattern baldness since I have patterns that are typical to that but also general, severe thinning. It’s a puzzle.
Dot
NM
I am 54 and have lived with chronic pain most of my adult life. I am on high level pain meds and now my doctor started me on Gabapentin, I have been reading this blog and I was excited to read that it helps with insomnia, pain, fibro and various other things that I suffer from. Then I read the not so good reviews and I am afraid to try it.
I suffer from depression and anxiety and I don’t want them to get to worse. What is a person to do ???
Deb B
Don’t be afraid….I suffer from fibromyalgia too and likely now MS. So I’d say give it a try and monitor your anxiety and depression. If it worsens let your DR know asap and discontinue the drug. But unlike many in this blog, I have found Neurontin very effective for my type of pain(neuropathy in my arms and legs). I don’t think Neurontin is effective for all types of pain, so that’s what you have to find out.
Karen
Florida
Read posts in gaba pen tin withdrawal group if you are on Facebook. I took it for about a year for nervepain. Many terrible side effects , horrible reaction when attempted to increase dosage , & worst withdrawals you can imagine
Linda
Spokane wa
Due to incompetent doctors, I was forced to suffer severe pain from a herniated disk in my neck. Rather than fix me, I finally submitted to the drug, gabapentin.
I hated the drug. I was a depressed zombie with big swollen ankles after the first dose. After a month on the drug, my legs felt heavy. I had hard painful lumps in my thigh muscles. I could no longer use my treadmill. A few months later! I could barely walk. Using the stairs was an ordeal.
Getting off my toilet was a major undertaking. I could hardly walk any length without such pain. My hip joint began stabbing me no matter where or how I sat. I had MRIs on my spine. No one knew what was causing my disability. I read some forums and saw that others had mentioned leg weakness and heaviness.
I weaned off the medication after finally getting neck surgery and had immediate relief overnight. Nerve pain continued so I began taking Lyrica. Within a month I had leg pain again. However! That drug was very wicked to get off. It took a year to wean off 300 mg. My legs were in terrible condition.
At the end of the taper, my body ached something terrible for weeks. My legs had huge muscle knots and my hips hurt so bad that I used the maximum oxycodone. That barely touched the muscle misery. My doctor informed me that the muscle damage could be permanent. I was horrified.
It’s been 8 weeks and I still need oxycodone to bury the pain. But I believe my muscles are beginning to heal with massage, time, and CoQ10. Both drugs were horrible for me. While helping with nerve pain, the stiffened my muscles so bad that they became hard to the touch and I felt as though I would break when I moved.
Beware. Many doctors like these drugs because they are not opiates. But the withdrawal (which some refuse to acknowledge) are terrible and last for months—such as benzodiazepines. Terrible.
Rebecca
Denver Colorado
Hi, I’ve been reading all of your comments, trying to relate or find a scenario like mine, so that I can relate. I wish someone would say what “illness” they have that warrants consistent use of Neurontin. I hear symptoms they are having, a backache, or headache, but what about those of us who have an actual incurable disease, like M.S. I was prescribed Neurontin immediately after my diagnosis in 2007, the neuro told me that the most I should take is 3,600 a day, so just play with it.
I have been so physically sick since my diagnosis that I have no life. All I do is plan out my medications, and still suffer. I’m still in pain, take narcotics too, 5/325 Norco 12 a day, along with Baclofen, Cymbalta, xanax, temazapam, hydoxazine, hydrochlorathyazide, and a Copaxone injections daily. Do you think the Dr. has my best welfare in mind? I have wasted 9 yrs. trying to learn how to pull myself out of this mess. So my last visit I expressed my desire to get off of Neurontin. He has prescribed Lyrica instead, and told me I could just ad 1 75mg Lyrica a.m. and p.m and take away 3 neurontin daily. That would be 900mg., I started doing that 3 days ago, and I feel so sick. Headache, painful muscles, stomach pain and now today vomiting.
Is this all just withdrawal? Is it that powerful of a med that it would kick your butt. How long might this go on? I will stick it out if its not dangerous for me. I’m really pretty about taking the minimal amount of what they prescribe. So, I want to feel better, I want to flush some of these poisons out of my system, but man its rough. Any suggestions? Can I continue cutting the neurontin out quickly like this and replace it with the target dose of 300mg a day in like one week, and is it any better??
suzanne
louisville,kentucky
its with drawal
Deb B
St.Albert, Alberta, Canada
MS is reason for consistent use of Neurontin. I was diagnosed a few years ago and I also have fibromyalgia. I am on Cymbalta too and clonazapam…going to see if I can get off the clonazapam and just stick to Neurontin and Cymbalta. It sounds like you are on a great deal of drugs….so your body might be rebelling because of the large chemical cocktail you are on. I would see if you can get off some of them very gradually one at a time….I think some Dr’s are just pill pushers! I haven’t had any problems at all with Neurontin and it has been effective for the pain in my limbs.
Jonanne
England
I had been on gabapentin for about 2 years for nerve damage from gallbladder surgery, I was on 300mg 3 times a day. These tabs were a wonder drug and took my pain away almost immediatel. I also suffer from deppresion and was not sleeping very well and found gabapentin was helping these symptoms.
Now 2 years later I returned to the doctor and told her I would like to come off this medication as I feel its time. So for the last few weeks she weened me off them with a withdrawal chart, which I followed till the last tablet. Just 2 days after being completely off gabapentin the side effects have hit me: dizziness, headaches, nausea, and I actually fainted which I have never done before in my life.
The doctor told me I had come off them to quick and to start taking a lower dosage and weaning off gradually again, which I have done but still the same symtoms. Have not taken any now for 5 days and the dizziness headaches are back and I am not sleeping, I am also having hot sweats in the night and feeling very low in mood. I am no way going back on them, I am going to persevere with symptoms and hope I can cope. I feel like I am going around the bend and will never get better. I advice anyone thinking of taking these tablets to think again and DONT do it ???
Dale
Lancashire
I have been on gabepentin for 18 months. Within this time my legs were so heavy unbearable pain in lower back. Could hardly walk. After numerous visits to doctors and ex rays I decided to stop taking 2 tablets 3 times a day, wow my pain in back on 2 day 70% better legs not heavy, having little trouble sleeping but what the hell, I feal like I. Getting my life back. Please be weary taking gabepenin tablets for pain they can have a horrible affect on your mobility. I. No doctor just my personal experience on taking these tablets, no more being house bound
Bonnie (pain in the Knee)
Ohio
I suffered for 3 years with extreme pain after a total knee replacement. On October 12, 2015 a new doctor prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg twice a day. NO MORE PAIN!!! However, on Dec 1, 2015 I developed a rash of tiny blisters on the knee where I had the replacement. After a week this area looked like I had shingles, so I went to my family doctor. He diagnosed the rash as a bacterial infection. As of Jan. 13, 2016, I still have this rash (not as severe). After 1 & 1/2 months of taking 200mg per day of Gabapentin, did I develop a reaction to it? Skin rash is listed as a side effect of Gabapentin. Doctor says no.
Robert
USA
I have suffered with chronic pain for 15 years . My M.D. prescribed me Neurontin for pain , and said it was used to treat diabetic leg pain. I asked him , if it was an anti-psychotic drug , as I am not able to tolerate the side effects of these types of drugs. He assured me , it was NOT ,an anti-psychotic drug. Following his dosage recommendation , I found the drug helped me to sleep @ the 400mg. dose. However , after I was on the drug for a week , I sank into a state of uncontrollable depression. The thoughts of suicide ,were so intense , I scrambled to find a psychologist. Being unable to find ,anyone , I tried talking to anyone who would listen. That night I looked up the side effects of Neurontin , and low and behold ,there was the data , crystal clear. Further research , led me to believe , that this drug was killing people. I am NOT very happy with what my physician did ,and what he had told me. I’d like to do something about doctors prescribing this drug for off use purposes ,as Pfizer has paid billions in lawsuits due to this practice.
Sandra
Seattle
Robert – this happened to me also and I agree with you. The drug seems to help some people but use of any drug that could cause depression and thoughts of suicide should be monitored closely by your doctor.
For me the danger was high because I did not talk to anyone and my thinking was so distorted that I was unable to perceive that I had a problem or that I had changed.
What I’ve come to realize is that no one warns the patient about the dangers of drugs. The pharmacist doesn’t, the doctor doesn’t, no one does. The medical community is controlled by the drug companies. And there is no one on our side.
icki
usa
You have to ask these questions
Sheila
USA
Robert did ask and it was still prescribed to him. THAT is just WRONG!!
Arkemia
It’s not even quite a month being on this neaurotin and I can’t remember anything it’s very frightening for my family to tell me that I left my front door open for 5hours, not remembering that I got up at 11pm at night to lock my daughter out. I need my mind thank you so I’ll rather deal with this chronic nerve pain.
ron
@Arkemia. I’m glad I’m not the only one suffering from amnesia…I have the same problem. I can’t remember something I did 10 minutes before I did it. Very scary indeed! I know I had slight memory loss after 7 years of extreme benzo use, but nothing like this.
John
Milwaukee WI
I have been on gabapentin for over 3 years. I have even used Gralise a 24 HR version. 3 900 mg a day. I have seen no help from it. If anything my problems have worsened. I have bad neuropathy in my legs feet, low back. It has since progressed to my arms and hands. I feel like my body is in a vice. I am now suffering from edema in my legs feet and face. I have to get off to see if my situation changes. My Dr says it will just be more pain, I can’t believe there would be.
I am going to do it against his advice but need to know how to suffer the least amounted withdrawals. Just to preface this, the pain I was feeling when treatment was started was 1/10th of what it is now. That is also using the max amount of tramadal and tiazadine. I dont want to take opioids and can’t believe that this is what I am stuck with at 48 years of age
colleen
denver
I had the same issues and went off it on my own and suffered SEVERE nausea for month. Taper down very slowly or you can have the same side effects as bento withdrawal (that is what they compare it to) for months. All I know it is is severe when you go off it quickly.
ron
Doctor put me on gabapentin for benzodiazepine withdrawals. 300mg 3 times daily. I fainted head first onto the floor the other day, woke 2 hours later! I would rather deal with the benzo withdrawals than be on gaba. Worst medication I have ever taken.
Nina
California
I have Fibromyalgia and have been taking Gabapentin for 5 months. I am currently taking 1600 mg. Prior to starting Gabapentin I had a flare up that left me bedridden for two months. The Gabapentin was a life saver and controlled my pain enough that I could function semi normally and start scaling back on my pain meds. I have had and continue to have side effects from the beginning and for me it’s just weighing the positives versus the negatives. Positives: less pain, improving quality of life. Negatives: Being very ditzy (forgetful, losing things, having to focus more while driving), weight gain.
While the side effects have lessened (the first month was bad! ) I still have them but I am much happier on it at this point.
Fonzette
Lake Washington, Florida
Hi y’all….I am thankful I came across this discussion board… I JUST started taking Gabapentin/300mg 3x a day “as needed” for Fibromyalgia and Spinal Stenosis. My first pill was at 530PM yesterday/Monday and my “climbing the walls with pain” gone within one hour after suffering 10 days with current flare. Slept thru the night (never before) except when 100 pound GSD “puppy” woke me to go out at 130AM. Puppy woke me up again this morning at 9AM to go out and I felt ok. Gradual 3-4 pain started so at 1130AM today/Tuesday I took my second pill. It’s now 1130PM and I’m still pain free…so first pill lasted 18 hours and second pill is at 12 hours and still no pain……
BUT—I am feeling dizzy and a little “disconnected” when I am usually sharper than a tack (LOL)…and very very sleepy…..I am very concerned about continuing Gabapentin after reading your posts and experiences. I know I can not continue with the kind of pain I experienced these last 10 days but I do not want to lose my quality of life either (I knew that I could not and would not drive today with the way I was feeling after taking these 2 Gabapentins)…And, I must be careful as I live alone. Have my first appointment with a pain management doctor who handles Fibromyalgia (not easy to find a local doctor who is willing to treat Fibromyalgia–not even my sweet Rheumatologist who has been treating me for 4 plus years for gout and arthritis–she referred me to a pain management doctor who will treat Fibro).
I have a pending RX waiting to be filled for Oxy 5mg 2 x daily and I have taken Oxy before with none of the same side effects I am now experiencing from just 2 Gabapentin. Any input/thoughts/suggestions from y’all will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
kim
cheshire. England
Hi nina. I too suffer with fibromyalgia and take the same dose as you. I have found it has given me more of my life back also.but I’m still in pain, its more bearable though. Memory is terrible. I have been tempted to come off them because of the side effects I’ve read about, especially because I also suffer with anxiety and depression. I suppose gabapenttin works differently for each person. Its helped me.
Portia Parker
United States
I have Neuropathy unrelated to Diabetes & I have been prescribed Gabapentin for approximately two years combined with chronic pain meds, meclizine, topomax, imitrex, mainly; which are most effective for me. Although the Gabapentin causes immediate urination & slight weight gain, it is practically immediately effective at ceasing my nerve ending pain; taking one 300mg capsule every six hours. It also helps with migraines; although initially skeptical, two nightly aids sleep.
roxanna l.
castile
love gabapentin. found out I had sjogrens syndrome, a lot of joint pain, couldn’t function or get out of bed, now feel like a new person from this product. I take plaquenil also. So greatful for these meds, I feel so good. I still get sore here and there but for the most feel like a new women thank you.
Yvonne
NC
I am one of those people who have had an excellent response to gabapentin. Like Roxanna, I suffered so long with neck and shoulder pain from severe spinal stenosis, cervical 5, 6 and 7, that I considered offing myself. I had injections but the doctors told me I needed surgery because they could not give me an injection of steroids anymore due to the possibility of paralyzing me. Since I am living on borrowed time anyway because of my age, I said no to the surgery. Then a spine specialist suggested gabapentin. Within two days, I was amazed at how little pain I had. Yes, I am noticing some memory loss but I will find a way to deal with that. I cannot go back to that horrific pain and I do not want to take pain meds. Gabapentin helps me sleep and keeps me active. In fact I had to reduce my dosage from 900mg/day to 600mg/day due to drowsiness. The lower dose takes care of my pain and I have had no withdrawal symptoms.
Marie
Utah
I have been taking it for probably about 9 months on and off, so 9 months total. I noticed that I get horrible memory loss on it. Ironically, instead of improving my illness, it seems to have caused more mental symptoms. I lost my job because I couldn’t even remember to sign in and out of the log book. I wasn’t like that before the Gabapentin. I also got myoclonic jerks from being on it. I hope that they eventually go away. Gabapentin slows my thinking and makes me feel like a zombie. I would rather deal with my illness and feel more alive and able to converse than the way I feel on Gabapentin. On the other hand, when I experience terrible insomnia, it is one of the only drugs that will help me get to sleep without building a tolerance. Sometimes I sleep OK though. So I think that I will get off the Gabapentin again.
Gary
Wisconsin
This is a very valuable site.
Gary
Wisconsin
I have been taking gabapentin for abut ten months. I have developed extreme and prolonged numbness and lack of feeling in my lower extremities and anal area. I have diabetic neuropathy, which is why I was prescribed gabapentin….and pain has occurred less frequently. I also have developed prolonged sense of tinniness in my hearing, especially my own voice which is closest to my ears; but, all sounds, especially loud ones, are tinny. The numbness may be due to neuropathy becoming worse but no other thoughts on ‘tin ear.’
Rachel
UK
Gary, you report altered sensation in the anal area and lower body, this is a red flag symptom for cauda equina, if you have had lower back issues, I’d suggest you make an appt swiftly to get this ruled out. Cauda equina if left untreated can result in permanent disability.
dando
I thought caudal equina was a lack of control of urine and bowell movements… Not the actual numbness. I had numbness too but the surgery seems to have alleviated much of the numbness in that area.. still have it in the feet and legs however.
Ally
Georgia
Before anyone goes on this medication, PLEASE double check every fact your doctor, pharmacist and other sources give you. And, I apologize if this is hard to follow, but writing anything is so hard. My thoughts do not align.
I have been taking this medication for seizures for 11 months with a significant increase in dose for pain. I have been on narcotics off and on, and had a drastic spinal surgery. I was willing to try anything to address the pain.
I was also experiencing severe hot flashes with perimenopause. (I am 42)
I had been diagnosed with pmdd, a severe pms which I was told is attributed to hormonal imbalance., and I was put on celexa for this. The neurontin was supposed to help with this also, as it is now being used to treat bipolar depression. Although, I didn’t have an official diagnosis for bipolar, my early onset menopause gave me what I perceived to be very similar symptoms.
You can imagine, this was a wonder drug. Many problems..one little pill. And, I wish I had never started on it.
I loved that I got energy from this, mood lift, and sometimes a blissful sleep that came to me after some sort of doctor approved euphoria at times. I always reasoned through sadness, to be clear, but the hormonal drop off gave me a huge looming sense of despair. AND, it also prevented me from having ANY opiate withdrawal after I was yanked off my pain meds because I was released too early from the neurosurgeon. Was so willing to go through that now that I have this hell.
OMG!!
BRAIN GONE! Focus shattered. Had to stop driving.
I had to drop out of school where I was pursuing a chemistry degree. I was losing my mind. I was not able to focus, and my ability to even remember things I knew how to do well were slipping. I felt like I had some kind of horror beginning like alzheimers. I knew it had to do with this medication. My goals were gone. My dreams didn’t even belong to me anymore. I started researching.
INTENSE HUNGER PANGS, severe weight gain.
I discovered the weight gain WAS from this drug. I gained 35 pounds in 11 months. I was hungry all the time, and it was painful. I honestly felt like the switch in your brain that tells you that you ate enough, was broken. There was no joy in eating. Except I had eaten a ton of food and it could be anything, so long as that terrible pain didn’t come back.
MANIA and debilitating depression that kept me in my bed for almost 8 months.
Nightmares. No f’n thank you.
By month 11 now, I have gone off this stuff. I started a new job. I wasn’t able to go to my purse and take pills every 3 hours. The withdrawal started immediately, but I only realized this in retrospect. Dissiness, vertigo, ear pain, flu symptoms, eyes wouldn’t stop darting all over the place, insomnia, and the most intense pain of my life. Burning cuts.
Lymphatic vessels and ducts filled with fluid, pain from that was excruciating. You have hundreds of lymph nodes all over your body to carry fluid which contains new white blood cells, and destroys old cells, in addition to getting rid of toxins. On any given day here off this stuff, had at least 25 harden like rocks as other filled up and I couldn’t stand anything to touch me.
I have had a week long hell of feeling poisoned or had the worst hangover of my life, but I know this is gabapentin because this is twice now I had these exact symptoms.. and I don’t even drink!
Migraine, nausea, vomiting, the worst runs of my life. And, restless everything. I had a close call with my breathing. I felt like my heart was slowing to dangerous bpm. (It was 45) Felt like I was suffocating. I had to throw on winter clothes and go walking down the street because I didn’t know how to get the heart rate up. My dr just says, go back on your dose… and that all goes away. WHAT? Trade withdrawal for being a vegetable the rest of my life?
THIS IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE MEDICATION DESPITE IT”S CLASSIFICATION!!!! If your brain doesn’t shut down on it, you are lucky, but many people have similar problems to mine, just don’t take it.
I have refills, and I can’t imagine going back on it. The only reason I would take any more is because the mental part is so horrible, and the probability of a seizure. (I am on another seizure medication) If I can be rid of it forever, this is the goal. I think I might have to take a night time dose for the next few weeks because I can’t work.
CRUCIAL: taper, taper, taper!!!!
Tell your doc you know there is something not right.
Please let my suffering be your warning.
Ardith
oh my Dear Lady.. you have just said everything I fear for my husband.. prayers so much love and prayers .. ardy
Sarah
Oregon
I see that there are hundreds of comments, and I don’t know if anyone will read mine but I do want to say a couple of things for anyone newly on this med and considering going off or anyone considering taking this med. I want to share my story:
I was prescribed Gabapentin for chronic pain and took it for about 6 months before trying to stop. Here I am more than a year after that, and I’m still not off of it completely due to how difficult this medication has been to get off. It is not just like having flu-like symptoms with other drugs. Getting off of this medication is serious. It’s psychological, and it’s nearly illogical. There were no hot flashes or runny noses or rotten bottom. It was all brain related.
The side effects that I experienced on Gabapentin were rage and lethargy. I lost all motivation to do anything, to eat right, take care of myself, to continue physical therapy. I also became angry so easily, at the drop of the hat. You’re supposed to go onto Gabapentin gradually, so about six months into upping the dose, I found myself with so much rage that I knew I had to get off of this medication ASAP. So I immediately dropped down from 1200 mg to 600mg spread out through the day. I thought that since I had only recently gone up to 1200 mg that it would not be a big deal, I really don’t think it had been more than a few weeks.
Huge mistake, I became suicidal for almost 2 months, but with the help of my family I made it through. Here I am now over a year later, and I still have not been able to get off of that 600 mg of Gabapentin. I am down to 100 mg capsule a day that I cut in half. I had originally just dropped one 100 mg capsule in the evening but the side effects I experienced were insane. I figured dropping from such a low dose wouldn’t be such a big deal at this point, but I could not have been more wrong. I started having anxiety, dizzy spells, confusion and a horribly itching spine.
It’s been about two months that I’ve been splitting the dose in half and my back is still itching but the other effects finally calmed down. Through my research I found that if you have trouble getting off of Gabapentin it is very dangerous to just drop doses and go off so suddenly. The safest thing to do is to drop only 10% per month, so at that rate I’m still going to be on Gabapentin for at least another six months, making it a almost two years to get off of.
My advice to anyone taking this off label is: don’t do it, it’s not worth it. If you ever decide that you want to get off of it, life is going to be a living hell. It’s not just drug withdrawals like you get from opioids such as like flu-like symptoms for a week. It’s serious neurological and psychological stuff.
This is a crazy drug that is so dangerous that I can’t believe it exists. If I had been alone when I was trying to get off of this medication, I really don’t think that I would’ve made it. I think that I would have ended my life. When they say that it may cause suicidal thoughts, they were not kidding, and I have never been through that in my life. But I found myself lying in bed for hours plotting how I was going to do it.
Ardith
wisconsin
Hi a wife and caregiver here.. my Ed has been on this since Sept of 2015.. just not the same man anymore.. he just is not happy with anything. and has gone back to comics and music that has to scream all day… his headaches are worse his moods swings just terrible and I have to be so careful with anything and every thing I say.. he has fallen twice in the last 3 weeks from his working chair in the computer room .. I believe he is having blackouts.. prayers to so many.. for even if this drug helps several it is going to harm so many more..
Beth
I was on Gabapentin for only 9 days. I was on several pain relievers and stopped everything because my hair was falling out at an alarming rate. I couldn’t get any of the Dr.’s from the VA to call me back (shocker, I know), so I took my pile of pills to the Walgreens pharmacist who informed me it was the Gabapentin. It was not in the information I got with the prescription, but looking into it online, it is very common. I also gained 12 lbs in that 9 days, though I thought at first it was the steroid injection. I also had severe agitation and hostility. This was such an easy drug for the VA Urgent Care Clinic to hand me for nerve pain due to a herniates disk. I am shocked it is even on the market! With the terrible side effects I had, am still dealing with, that my Dr. wasn’t even aware of, I think it should be used much less if at all. I felt after I saw this blip on here that it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t say anything. I can’t find anywhere that anyone has actually stated that their hair has made a full recovery, only that after months and years they now have short hair and some are looking at wigs. I am frightened at this point.
Please be careful if you are on this medication. If you are considering it, I hope you read this in time.
leanne
ontario
@ BETH, I’m about to start this drug tomorrow actually. When did you hair start falling out and how do you know it was the drug causing it? This is really frightening and it’s making me think twice about it. I don’t like taking drugs in the first place, I’d rather smoke pot or something more natural. I have a lot of nerve damage in my ankle/leg from a crush injury. If you could respond back to me, I’d really really appreciate it. I’m pretty nervous for this now!
Heath
Colorado
Hello Beth. I am curious what your experience has been since November. My wife took only 2 or 3 of the generic 600mg gabapentin in August 2015. She didnt need it anymore, so she discontinued it. A week later the hair loss started. She has since developed alopecia universalis.
JoF
Missouri
I, too, took Gabapentin and have experienced many of the same side effects that others have experienced in this forum. The worst ones for me have been the hair loss, the pain in my joints, the rash, and the depression.
I called my doctor about all of them, and he said I shouldn’t worry because my dosage was so low (I have sensitivity to any kind of pain medication). He also told me that a rash and hair loss are not side effects to Gabapentin.
After having been on the medication for less than 1 month, handfuls of my hair were coming out every time I washed it or brushed it. After 4 months, I had lost 3/4 of the thickness of my hair. This was traumatic to me (adding to my depressed feelings). After much thought, I decided on my own to go off of the Gabapentin.
After I consulted with a dermatologist (to make sure it wasn’t alopecia), she told me that it wasn’t a disease, but it was the medicine. She also told me I may not see any improvement in my symptoms until at least January of this year if I went off the Gabapentin in October. It is February, and I am finally seeing small growths in my hair (about 1-1 1/2″ in length).
It’s going to be a long haul, but I think my hair will return over time. It’s pretty ugly right now, but I’m glad it’s coming back. The pain in my joints continues, but I have hopes that it will also go away over time. I’m sorry others have had this problem, but I am glad that I am not alone.
John chancy
It gives alot of energy and helps me sleep. I feel no pain but I also can’t feel myself scratch an itch. I have headaches and it does make me sleepy some.
Gary
Wisconsin
Since taking gabapentin for ten months, I feel numb and my ears experience a rasping and tinny sound, especially from my own voice, which is nearest my ears.
Scotty
Georgia
Was placed on Gabapentin, 300mg Q6H for Type 2 diabetic neuropathy. I had been thru the gantlet of drugs to address this including Tramadol and Methocarbinal. Nothing was effective and I refuse to use narcotic Meds.
Since starting the Gabapentin my pain level has gone from a 8-9 to a 1-2. I have a small bit of constipation but address it with a stool softener BID. No weight gain and a decrease in appetite. No other side effects noted so far.
What a real difference this med has made for me. I have even noted a increase in motivation which I attribute to the decrease in pain. This is the ONLY medication that has worked so far and all I can say is, IT’S ABOUT TIME !!!
bob h
new jersey
My dr asked me back in september
To try gabbapentin because I’ve been on morphine 60mg time release meds for perepheral artery
Desease also 30mg quick release
Morphine one time in 2 years I used about 60 30mh pills he thouhhti used to much so he asked
Me to use gabbapentinn worst thing I have done in a long time
I goy cotton mouth my head was killing me I couldn’t see I was nauseated. My joints hurt so bad
I felt like I never took any pain meds I couldn’t think what I was doing unsteady and my nerves
Were shooting all over my body
I thought it was gonna kill me
Renie
Arizona
I have been taken gabapentin about 15 years. My hair is thinning out really bad and I have virgo,weight gain 30lbs.I have tryed to loose weight I try to eat healthy but for some reason my weight does not stay off.
matt
florida
I am on my fifth month of shingles . At this stage I could not due without my 1800 mg a day. Shingles scars went from two + feet swath to a small six inch path that is still painful.
Upon first taking gabaprentin had several side effects, not seeing little green men, but close. Like a feeling somebody was next to me all day E.G.,. I hate Pharmaceutal drugs-but often necessary.
Yet when I quit gaba by slowing down daily- when dosage hit 600MG full pain returned. Life would be miserable for me without it.
Everybody is different especially reguarding side effects.
Wish everyone a get well!
Zeta
USA
I was prescribed 300mg gabapentin twice/day 3 months ago for pain from RLS. 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and my dose was increased to 600mg twice/day in combination with Cymbalta which I was already on for depression only they increased the dose from 60mg to 120mg after my diagnosis. The gabapentin helps a great deal with the pain from the fibro but it has made my headaches worse. I have had a sharp rise in bowel movements up to 5 times per day from 2-3 times a week. So many BMs has led to bloody stool and sometimes just bloody mucus. It is quite unsettling. However, until I have tests done there is no way to know if this is from the meds. I tend to have more energy with the gabapentin, sometimes I feel an increase in motivation and I find myself talking a lot. Not quickly, just constant talking. I will wait and see how things play out but there are days when I wish I could take Vicodin for the pain like I used to instead of the gabapentin because I felt so much more like myself (less pain, fatigue, and BMs) but I know that is not an option since continued use could make the fibromyalgia worse and an addiction to painkillers is not something I need added to my list of troubles.
ellie j
new zealand
Hi im on a daily dose of 1200mgs, am and 2000mgs, pm og gabapentin for C.R.P.S type2 and am having problems with weight gain. Ive been on this for 2 yrs now and cant seem to get any control. Your thoughts please.
marie
new zealand
how are you going? Mr 10 yr old taking it for crps as well. Has had weight gain and swollen ankles/legs. Last week we started epsom salts baths and the water retention has reduced significantly. Unsure of whether you can manage a bath or not (alloydnia?). apparently you can even smear it on the skin with warm water if you can. After a year we have finally managed to get him to local physio pool for gentle exercise too. Goodluck, its a hard journey but the gaba certainly has helped him pain wise
Michelle
Indiana
I was given gabapentin from my pain management doctor along with norco 5mg 4x a day…300mg of neurotin 3x a day ….was scared to take it because of so many people have suffered greatly with side effects….pain was getting so severe and norco was not enough..so I decided to try the gaba and it did help with pain a little eased it so I could relax…..but, I felt just like I did when I was in college when I smoked pot…I was really high…parinoa,giggles, relaxed as hell…took one before I went to bed an woke up with really bad headache which is not normal for me and very sluggish…stiff neck…I have epiplesy, narcolepsy, and nerve and back pain…sometimes I can barely move and norco helps back,and nerve pain got so bad after taking chantix to stop smoking,I can barely stand it without crying,I take nuvigil for narcolespy which sometimes I would be awake for up to two days…gave me very high energy and I felt great,then I take chantix and I am in terrible,unbareable pain,quit chantix and thought it would go away…that’s why I resorted to gaba….only going to take 300 mg to 600 mg a day and see if I can take it….I hope I feel better and can get off gaba….really believe my worsen never pain was caused by chantix that is a night mere drug…sure hope gaba won’t be for me…
SPOB
Nyc
My mom is taking this with side effects
Andrew
UK
Have been on Gabapentin for about 3 months with good results iro nerve pain.
However, I have not yet developed any tolerance to the side effects of fatigue and brain fog – I feel like a zombie most of the time and do a technical job that is becoming a nightmare! Moving about I am fantastic but sitting down doing my job is not good.
My dose is 300mg 3 times a day – I have upped this to gain more pain relief but had to come back down to this level within a few weeks due to the side effects already mentioned. Current dose is what I need for the relief so hoping that I start to tolerate better very soon but after this amount of time doubt it.
I need to keep taking this as nothing else has helped over the last 6 years- tramadol does not come close and codeine is useless – so how to work in my current job is now my focus!
Timothy John patton
Shelter cove, ca
I was asked by my Va doctor in Eureka to take gabapentin generic for nuerotin she would not listen to me preferring vicodin as gabapentin has cause 870 sudden deaths to people in my age group 50+ and side affects that are listed for gabapentin are something out of a nightmare you can actually get symptoms that mirror drug withdrawal some symptoms include the runs, cramps, virtigo, AMNESIA, SUDDEN DEATH, currently there are 37,000 people with symptoms that they say ruined their lives.
My doctor for the V A in Eureka told me Gabapentin OR Nothing…she is definitely getting paid by the drug companies AND by my internet studies far more addictive
Now that I said the bad stuff if you have epilepsy gabbapenton IS GOOD
Even experts say for off shoot uses the cost benefit ratio is doubtfully to say good when there appears a bad story for every good one unless its for epilepsy people who’s lives are given back
Victoria
South Carolina
Where did you find out your information? I desperately need to get ahold of more info because I have been on Gabapentin for less than six weeks for an off label use. I started with 1200 mg. 3 times daily with 400 mg. pills. I was so exhausted and had so many effects that my doctor just said to drop it to one 400 mg. tablet per night after only about 4 weeks.
For about a week and a half, I felt like I was going to die most of the day. I felt OK only for a few hours each day. Last night I tried to stop the 400 mg and I almost had to go to the emergency room at 6:00 a.m.
I called my regular doctor’s office in a panic and she immediately told me to break open the 400 mg capsule and divide the medicine in half (est. 200 mg.) to get some immediate help! She was alarmed that my specialist doctor had me drop my dose so suddenly and never informed me of the hideous potential effects of this drug. I don’t think his is even aware of what can happen.
I have almost lost my cognitive function and my brain function is seriously impaired. I have also had about 10 other very frightening and sometimes very painful other side effects.
Doctors seem to either be totally unaware of the potential disasters of this medication and dosing facts OR they know exactly what the dangers are because they have seen them first hand!
I need guidance immediately from a true expert! I am taking 200 mg. every 12 hours until I can get some help tomorrow. I am very afraid and even having a hard time composing this email because my brain is not working well at all!
Sincerely, Victoria
Kelli
Kentucky
Hi Victoria,
How are you feeling?
I took this medication for for 3 1/2 weeks and started experiencing troublesome side effects when I had to increase my dosage. I discontinued this medicine after decreasing my dose over two days and have had a very hard time with the withdrawal symptoms.
Anonymous
It’s been 3 days since I’ve taken Gabapentin. I take about 2000 mg each day in several 300 to 600 mg doses. I’m extremely happy about the results. It pretty much gave me my life back. I’m 23, male, normal build.
I combine it with coffee and beer (things I usually drink daily) and here are the effects I felt:
It cured my self-diagnosed ADD. I have more attention and energy. If I drink more beer I feel and behave like the stereotypical coked up businessman, but I can, in the blink of an eye, make myself feel and act calmly – I can pet my cat gently, do anything I’d normally do and no one would notice I’m on Gabapentin. Can’t say the same for amphetamine – on Gabapentin I have no twitching, rapid eye movements, etc.. About the ADD – I managed to read and do useful stuff all day yesterday – I kept a time log to prove it to myself. Total self control – no distractions or thoughts that take me away from the task at hand.
It gives me back at least 2 hours a day I usually spend in mindless distraction and waste of time.
It gave me more motivation. I wanted to run, even though I hate running – and I did. The motivation came a bit after I realized the attention and energy benefits, I think.
It let me evaluate my priorities. I realized that a project I was working on for the past few weeks deserved less time for the aspects I was spending time on, and more time for others.
It saved me quite a bit of hours spent in unproductive activities.
It cured my insomnia. I used to need about an hour to get to sleep (sometimes 3). Now I can go to sleep quite easily – just 3-4 minutes.
It gives me back an hour a day.
It made me sleep less. The past few weeks for some reason I can’t sleep less than 10 hours. Sometimes 12. This is regardless of what drugs I took. The 2 previous nights I slept 8:30 hours and 5:20 hours, respectively. I feel really refreshed. I managed to get out of bed almost instantly, I usually hit snooze at least 5-6 times.
It gives me back about 3-4 hours a day.
The only side effect is blurry and double vision at the end of the day, after I spend it on the computer. I just go to sleep then, since it’s time anyway.
I’ll continue to take Gabapentin + coffee (lots) + beer (lots) and hope that the effects don’t disappear. I’ll try to lower the beer (for the liver and other organs) and coffee and see if that could work. Or I’ll try to switch from beer to some benzodiazepine or weed.
Timothy John patton
Everyone needs to look up side effects for this drug before taking it.
Skippy
Port Saint Lucie,Florida
I am taking gabapentin 800mg three times a day for neuropathy that just suddenly appeared one morning at about 2:00. My insides felt like someone had poured acid on all my nerve endings especially on my intercostal nerves. I called my Doctor and he immediately sent me to a Neurologist who immediately sent me to a pain management clinic where they started me on the gabapentin which did not work at first . It has since been increased to the current 800mg. 3 times daily. This works pretty well, but i am extremely depressed mainly because of the pain, so I am seeing a Physcologist who has recommended I try Cymbalta in addition to the gabapentin. I will be taking my first dose when he calls it in to the pharmacy. I don’t know how much he is going to prescribe. Does anyone else have this sudden onset of nerve pain which, by the way is atrocious? Anddoes anyone else take the two drugs together? I have ahd no side effects from the gabapentin. I have also had two intercostal nerve blocks which have lasted for about one month each, and two epidural steroid injections which also heve lasted for about one month
Thanks in advance,
Skippy
Timothy John patton
I had what you asked about sudden nerve painpain.
I watched my diet go plenty of physical activity and things calmed down
Jack
Vancouver, WA
Skippy,
Spend some time searching through the archives on this Neuropathy Forum – http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html
I’m sure you’ll find your answers…
*BTW, anything written by mrsD (retired pharmacist) is gold.
Good Luck,
Jack
Shawn
Im on gabapentin for nerve pain. They put me on cymbalta and Ikept waking up because of massive muscle spasms which caused more pain. I recommend a different drug if you can. Over time the spasms lessen but personally jumping body parts arnt good.
TJ
Wi
Hi Skippy, how are you doing these days? My onset was not rapid but it was insidious. It turns out I had a herniated disk in the thoracic spine pressing on the nerve root. Does that sound like your condition?
I’m just trying gabapentin (again) now; it’s too early to know how I’ll do. First go round it increase my pain. But that was before the rib cage pain. We’re doing a much lower dose, in hopes of controlling that pain but not triggering the same pain the gabapentin caused.
Carrie
Alabama
My Dr started me on Gabapentin 15 day sample pack and yesterday was day 4 on 900 mg and I have not been to bed so hyper, restless leg and ankle pain is so bad today!
Anyone else make you hyper and just go go?
Michelle
Iowa
With all of the negative comments regarding Gabapentin, one could be discouraged from trying it. I know I was. What a mistake that would have been for me. This drug has changed my life. I suffer from a painful bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis and have failed every treatment regimen, save for one that made me gain 30lbs, my hair fall out, and caused chronic fatigue. I was very reluctant to start Gabapentin, as it can cause all of those side effects and worse. However, in my case, the side effects have been the OPPOSITE. My pain is gone. Zip. Vanished. I have gone from urinating 60 times a day to 8-10.
It wiped out my appetite, and I am losing weight. I NEVER lose weight on meds, even ones prescribed for weight loss, like Wellbutrin, Yaz and Adderall!! I have more energy and motivation than I have had in five years. I have been on antidepressants to combat major depression but they have never gotten me past the point of just feeling ok. I had forgotten what it felt like to actually want to get off the couch and do things! The only side effect was mild nausea with each dosage increase.
My doctor started me at a low dose of 300 and had me increase 100mg every 3 days. I think the slow titration was significant for making this an easy transition. I also have ADHD and can not believe how this has calmed my mind. I can think clearly now. I have no fogginess, no problems with word recall (like I did with Lamictal) and am sharper mentally than I have been in ages.
I have heard that trying to go off this drug is hell…but I don’t care because there is no way in hell I will EVER quit taking it! I have my life back! While I do not doubt all of the horrible things some people experience with Gapabentin (my own niece was one of them), remember that everyone reacts differently to meds. Start at small doses and increase slowly so that if you have serious problems you can stop easier. But please don’t refuse to try this because of the negative reactions others have experienced. Your case might be very, very different!
Paul
Massachusetts
I was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia and the doctor prescribed 100 mg neurontin 3x a day. I started taking it and immediately felt lousy, and quickly developed a fever of 102 for a couple of days and felt totally miserable. Doctor told me to stop it, and within a day the fever went away and am back to normal. This certainly wasn’t for me. Meeting with the doc to find another option for this nasty drug.
Anna
UK
Hoping someone else can help with some questions please…my partner was prescribed Gabapentin for complex regional pain syndrome after he broke his wrist. He took 1000mg 3x a day for 6 months. He was ultra careful about withdrawl, stepping it down in smaller increments over a longer time than instructed and still had a terrible reaction – he was severely constipated for 4 days in in a lot of pain.
That was 6 months ago, and his guts haven’t been right since. It comes and goes, but he gets severe bloating, gas and constipation ever fortnight or so. He never had any problems before going on Gaba. The GP says it’s nothing to do with it… I’vedone some research and some say it can take a year to completely recover from Gaba…
Are his sypmptoms related to the Gaba? Has it done long term damage to his insides? Is there anything we can do to help? (He keeps fit, tries to eat healthily including lots of fresh veg and fruit, isn’t overweight) and how long will this last for?
Thankyou and best wishes to everyone else out tgere dealing with this drug!
Timothy John patton
Yes the symptoms for gabba include gas, intestinal distress, and constipation in some people and the runs for other people
Cyn
CA
He may want to try eating yogurt and/or probiotics. Sometimes your gut loses the beneficial bacteria and it is helpful to eat foods with good bacteria in them. In my experience (I have CRPS/RSD and many intestinal issues), plain yogurt with fresh fruit (something juicy to give the yogurt sweetness) or a type of yogurt with very little sugar in it is best. The more sugar, it seems, the less I feel better after eating it. It may take a few days, but I’d give it a try. Can’t hurt, can help!
Sarah
He can’t go down more than 10% per month. Some people have serious sensitive since systems when it comes to gabapentin and they just cannot get off of it without a hell of a time. So even if he thinks he’s going down slowly, he’s probably going down way too fast. 10% a month, you can do a search online for 10% a month decreased gabapentin and you should find this awesome forum that discusses this topic.
Sarah
I also second the suggestion to add a high-quality probiotic daily
Molly
Florida
Gabapentin has been a lifesaver for me. I have been suffering with occipital nerve pain for a few years now and this is the only thing that has given me any relief. Recently my neurologist has increased my dose as I have developed a tolerance to the drug. I started out at 100 mg 3 times a day and will end up at 1200 mg 3 times a day. For all of you here who also experience nerve pain you know it can be absolutely debilitating. The first couple of days I increase the medication each time I am sure to do it on the weekends because I anticipate the “drunk” or drowsy feeling until I get used to it. By the end of the weekend I am good to go and the pain is under control again. There are side effects with Gabapentin just like with any drug. I am willing to deal with some side effects in order to have my life back. I have been fortunate and haven’t had any serious side effects.
Michelle
iowa
I can’t tell you if the gabapentin caused your husband’s issues, but trying a high quality probiotic may help right his digestive system. A lot of meds can completely destroy natural gut bacteria and cause severe problems, particularly, but not limited to, antibiotics. Was your husband on any another meds during that time? It might not be the gaba that is responsible.
syndi
san antonio
Maybe he has a gluten allergy or intolerance. Gabapentin is suspended in gluten, neurontin is not!
Terri
Washington
I was prescribed Gabapentin, 100 mg 3x day after my second back surgery caused my sciatic nerve damage at 80%. Basically, the nerve would shoot a burning/electricity type pain down the back of my legs. This medication was a nightmare that still haunts me nine years later. I gained 40 pounds, lost my ability to form sentences/find words, and ultimately would get lost when driving home from work on a path I drove for a couple of years prior. I literally felt like I was losing my mind.
I fired my doctor who “refused” to take me off the medicine and found a doctor to work with me. I have been taking “topamax” since 2006, another seizure medication which has helped me tremendously. It is an off label use for sciatic nerve problems, but works wonderfully. And I have taken all of the weight off that I gained with Gabapentin!! FYI, I take 100 mg topamax in am, 100 in pm. Good luck everyone. Do your own research & be your own best advocate! Doctors do not know everything and are often “bought” by the pharmaceutical representatives.
Bel
California
I was on a ‘light’ does of Gabapentin for a year for Restless Leg Syndrome. At first I thought it was a miracle cure, but a few months later I had to double the dose for it to keep working. I started to notice that I wasn’t feeling the ‘burn’ when I worked out and did weights and then I started to notice that my hair was falling out… It was a nightmare. Take a good quality magnesium citrate for RLS. Stay clear from this drug.
Michelle
Iowa
Topamax is infamous for causing the exact same problems that gapapentin did for you. Everyone responds to medications differently. For me, gaps has made my mind clearer, sharper and happier than I have been in ages. I have zero unpleasant side effects, even lost weight on it. I was scared to try it because of posts like your but I am glad I did. I am glad topamax is working out for you, because for many it does not. The brain impairment it can cause is so severe that it is often called “dopamax” by doctors. Do not discourage people from trying one med or another based on your side effects- what works for one won’t work for someone else, and vice versa. It isn’t about doctors being in bed with big pharma, it is about people having different responses. Gabapentin is on the market because for many people it works, and works well. And many either have minimal side effects or are willing to trade pain in exchange for them. It is a valuable medicine and if it ever is pulled from the market I would be devastated! This drug has made my life worth living again.
Lilly H
washington
In 2003 I came down with vasculitis. Awful, awful time! For 3 years I struggled just to take care of daily duties. I finally went to a doctor who put me on Gabapentin ( non had previously)…a wonder drug for me! I got some of my life back. Along the way the dosage was increased because of the nerve pain. I have neuropathy. Along with the increase came side effects that I didn’t attribute to this medicine and I didn’t start checking into the side effects deeper until I ended up with low blood sugar. So in the end I had gained weight, had suicidal thought 24–7, my personality had changed 24-7, low blood sugar and who knows what else. These effects were huge for me. I started cutting back on my dosage… slowly with my doctors help, and am at the point of cutting back again. I must say that as soon as I lowered the dosage, the side effects started to disappear. I am more tired but the trade-off is one that I embrace happily. I love these forums. I learn a lot from you people. So my advice is–when you start taking a new medicine, don’t just take a shallow overview as to what the side effects are, but check many sites and compare what is said, to what you are feeling. Well worth it!!!
patrick p.
Saugatuck, MI
After year with a spinal cord injury at c-5 & C-6 I’ve had chronic pain and neuropathy in hands and feet. (former Boston Marathoner) that injury occurred during a cervical spine operation. The next year I had a fibular graf from C-# to C-7. these were inn 1992 & 1993.
Ive had the past 5-6 years quite alot of pain and muscle neurons would not release my muscle spasms in my legs, I’d have to wait til the neuron “gave up” and tears running down my cheeks. Some thjought it may be Isaac’s syndrome. Doctor put me on Gabapentin for these spasms.
In 2013 U of M neurology diagnosed me with NYSTAGMUS. This did not bother me much if at all. In 2014 (Oct.) my doctor put me on GABAPENTIN. in Jan 2015 I started losing my equilibrium, and seemed to have ataxia.. Since January 2015 my eyes and “equilibrium” coordination have becom progressevily worse.. Since March I seem to have developed “vertigo” or the NYSTAGMUS has become worse! if I ever got pulled over by the police.. I’d never pass the field test!! Pain in my Trapazoids and the SCM muscles on my right side are extremely painful… as I even type this letter. For years Ive been on Hydrocodone and valium for pain andd to stop my legs from jumping at night!!My main problem now is that I cant get to sleep, leg jum p and I fal asleep from exhaustion. The muscle spasms have beed decreased this past year but have the m occasionally. My vision “vertigo” Nystagmus ia getting worse by the month. Could GABAPENTIN magnify the NYSTAGMUS?? My perphrical vision is bad. I cannot make out people faces from the side. I quit GABAPENTIN 8-17-15…The Neurological-Opthamologist said that seein that I stopped for @ days just contine NOT taking GABAPENTIN. Question,,,if GABAPENTIN cause mu recent (6-& months) eye problems, will vision return to normal eventually after quitting GABAPENTION 300 mg? Was down to 2 a day (eventually 1 a day the past 4 months) Will have to stop here painbecoming too intense just typing. Regards, psp
Candis
Pine Grove, CA
My husband was prescribed gabapentin as a prescription to help with pain in his fingers and arms due to neck and back surgery in 1994. This surgery was due to an industrial accident that split open his hardhat and jammed his spine and neck. The prescription is for 300 mg 3X’s a day.
After reading about all the side effects, we decided to start with only 100 mg taken before bedtime. After 3 weeks of only the 100 mgs once at night, his nerve pain is better but the side effects are out of control.
The effects are: clumsiness, behavior problems, anxiety, crying, depression, false sense of well-being, loss of memory, rapid changing in moods and unusual tiredness.
We will consult the Doctor on how to discontinue Gabapentin with minimal withdraw symptoms. His original surgeon said he would need additional surgery after about 10 years due his body adjusting to pins in his neck etc. I feel the drug was prescribed as a “Quick Fix” due to workman’s compensation insurance not wanting to absorbed the additional surgery costs. Good luck to all who use this drug and make sure you monitor the side effects.
Chris
MI
When I started on Gabapentin I was prescribed 300mg, 3x per day and for the first week was to take it only at night, and then morning and night for a week, then 3x per day after that. The first few times I took it I had many of the same side effects, but then it got better until the next time I ramped up, but then got better. My body adjusted to it after a few days, and as long as I now keep a steady amount of gabapentin in my system these side effects stay away for me. When I miss a dose the nerve pain comes back and I start to get side effects. I think what might be happening with your husband is that he is going up and down too much and doesn’t have a steady dose in his system. Gabapentin passes through the body quickly, in about 6 hours, so the next day he might be having withdrawals. If he gets these side effects right after taking it, that is a different story and it probably isn’t for him. If the side effects happen during the following day then these are withdrawal type symptoms.
After a year I now take 400mg, 4 times per day and can work and have my life back again. Herniated discs at T9-T10, L4-L5, L5-S1, expecting chronic pain to never really get resolved, and yes, I feel like a pharmaceutical test subject, but without it I don’t know what I would have done…
Michelle
Iowa
Yes, nystagmus is a known side effect of gapapentin for some people. I hope yours improves soon!
Richard
California
This drug is obviously helpful for many people. I have used it briefly and it is of some use to me for chronic nerve pain. But my condition is probably permanent and I do not want to be a test subject for the drug industry in regard to the long term impacts of gabapentin/nerontin, which apparently continues to be a poorly understood drug. I am considering other alternatives.
My only serious comment here is that physicians are prescribing this drug at high doses. Two doctors pushed this drug at me and neither of them discussed withdrawal. Neither
warned of side effects other than depression and thoughts of suicide. I find this very disturbing. I’ve learned far more about “medications” on message boards like this one than I have from ANY physician whom I have ever consulted.
Michael
St. Marys Ontario
I’m going to be very honest here. I finished my taper on Monday, after 7 days of 100mgs, split 50/50 every 12 hours. I am so happy that I jumped off at that point. Life is good without gabapentin. The WDs came on fast, stayed for a couple of days. Now I’m free. I’m sleeping, I’m eating. Life is good.
Audrey
Loiusisns
I have been taking gabapenton for 4 to 5 years for neuropathy and spinal stenosis as well as chronic nerve pain from spinal fusion. I am also a diabetic. I take 12 different meds a day for other problems. I am also on Norco 10s and welbuterin to help me stop smoking and to help with depression. Now I have had all of the side effects that have been mention here. They come and go. I take 800 mg of gabapentin at bedtime to help me sleep and stop the leg cramps and spasms. I have taken a 400 mg dose during the day when I have had bad leg crampd. I get very sleepy taking this med. None of my Drs seemed concerned about this drug and none of them told me about withdrawal symptoms either. It sounds like it should be made more aware to the public about their side effects and be put on the list of narcotics just like Norco and other opiate meds. I would love to stop taking all my meds but my physical health problems wont let me. Thanks
Penny
Al.
I was put on gabapentin by a physchiatrist along with klonopin and cymbalta for anxiety and depression. This was about a 1 1/2 years ago, I quit seeing doc because was doing good, so I weaned myself off of klonopin and then cymbalta. I am only taking 300 mg. of gabapentin 100 in morning and 200 at night..So a couple weeks ago, I just tapered my morning dose by 50 milligrams, started getting little jittery and not sleeping well after 3rd day, by 8th day I was crying, jittery, had akithasia, insomnia, burning and tingling in legs and arms, anxiety went through the roof, nervous system was shot.stomach problems. bad.pain in back and hips..So the 10th day, I couldnt stand it any longer and re instated. Still not feeling good, so gonna take an extra 100 mg. up from 300 mg to 400 in afternoon…Just makes me sick, I want off this so bad, I dont know why some people have such intense withdrawals and others do not…Anyone got any suggestions..
Michelle
Iowa
Gabapentin is very difficult to withdraw from and requires extremely slow titration. I had a similar issue with Lamictal and almost resigned myself to being stuck on it. Instead, I started reducing every other dose by 25 mg, then I would continue that for a month and reduce the other day as well. Continued that for several weeks, then reduced another 25mg. It took forever, but it minimized withdrawal symptoms and made it much easier to get off it.
Kelly
St. Paul, MN
how much were you taking?
Vera
Eastern Washington State
My experience with Gabapentin (I take the generic Neurontin) has been nothing but positive and a real blessing. I have been on Mirapex for years for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and it caused my insomnia. I also have Osteoarthritis in my neck and it was very painful. I take one arthritis pill per day but still had neck pain at night so I was given Neurontin 300 mg. I knew that it also helped some patients with their RLS at night.
I was able to cut back on the Mirapex at bedtime and take one Neurontin 300 mg at bedtime. I sleep better and have no next pain at night. I have no side effects from the Neurontin and was thankful to be cutting back on the Mirapex. Many doctors are good at allowing their patients to just keep increasing their RX, no matter what it might be. Of course you are going to have side effects and problems sooner or later if you keep increasing a medication.
I think the doctor should be looking for a different type of medication for the patient to try or send the patient to another doctor or specializes in their illness. A patient should never go off of an Rx cold turkey… that is asking for trouble. If a medication stops working for a patient, that patient still needs to be tapered off of the medication SLOWLY by someone who knows what they are doing. That is the only way that your brain can deal with it without going through a rough withdraw.
LS
Texas
I take 100gm 2-3 times daily for non diabetic neuropathy and L4 and L5 discs bulge plus deteriation of spine. I also take a low does of Tramadol for the pain.
GABA has been great! For the pain. I have Tested it a couple of times by going off and it really is the gaba that’s helping.
No weight issue, a bit of dizziness but I can live with that easier than the pain.
Hazel Long
Orlando, Fl 32812
I want to subscribe to People’s Pharmacy
valerie
Nixa mo
Gapentin caused me to gain 30 lbs in a 7 mos period.It caused extreme brain fog, and caused me to have a drunk like feeling if I only got 6 hours of slerp. I was put on this drugcfor Neuropathy caused by a back injury at a job. Oh yes as I’m typing this I can barely keep my eyes open today at work because they ate so dry and irritated from it. Thanks Gabapentin!!
Michelle
Iowa
This is so weird as I have experienced the exact opposite of all of these, even the dry eyes. I have been dealing with dry eyes from other meds and since starting gabapentin, the severe dry eye syndrome has disappeared. I was actually just googling trying to find out why! I also lost weight, can think clearer, my depression has lifted and Most importantly, my pain is gone. This drug has changed my life so much. Everyone reacts very differently to meds, and the one I took previously caused all of the symptoms you experienced to me, even though others loved it.
Jackie
Bellevue, wa
Amazing….All my life I have struggled with being TOO THIN!! Been on gabapentin for 16 yrs and haven’t gained an OUNCE!!
Goes to show we are all so different. Btw…I eat a Lot.
Michael
St. Marys Ontario
This is my second post here. I’m on a taper, it’s hell. I picked up 100mg liquid and a syringe. The good news is I’m on a total of 150mgs in a 24 hour period. 100mgs at 11:00pm and then 50mgs at 11:00am. In six days I stop the 100mg in the 11:00pm and continue the 50mg in the 11:00am. Seven days latter I drop the 50mg dose. Then I’m free. Willing to do the dance after that. Most posts mgs. are much higher. I feel lucky, going to say good by to gabapentin for ever.
Penny
Al.
How did your detox go? Are you free from gabapentin?
Pearl
UK
My new young neuro consultant prescribed 100mg x 3 time daily of Gabapentin, he told me it would change my life!
I took them the first day as prescribed, went to bed, got up next day and went shopping to buy a linen jacket and being a size UK 16 was troubled that I had to buy a size 18. I thought that I was having a “fat” day, ladies will know what I mean. When I got home I tried on a good fitting blouse, and bingo the front wouldn’t even meet. My chests had ballooned to melon sized proportions. I took a directic , binned the Gabapentin and intend to speak first to my pharmacist and then go and see my GP. I am grateful I found this blog and I will remember everyone of us who suffer in my prayers. Medical practitioners need to know the truth about this monster medication even though some people tolerate and benefit from it.
Michelle
Iowa
I have read that extreme increase in breast size is a an uncommon but possible side effect of gabapentin. I am thankful I did not experience this, going into it as a DD and wanting to lose weight. It has killed my appetite and actually helped me lose weight.
Pearl
UK
l. My new young neuro consultant prescribed Gabapentin, 100mg x 3 times daily for when I suffer episodes — his word not mine. I am the typical elderly woman who has had knee and hip replacements because of arthritis, still suffer in all my other joints in particular the neck and arms. Very limited mobility and standard of life is really poor, like waiting for God.
I have taken only 3 of these monster pills over 24 hours, and believe it if you will but my breasts have swollen beyond imagination. I bought a summer jacket yesterday and instead of buying my usual UK size 16 I had to buy a size 20!!! I am not exaggerating, it’s the truth. After finding this blog today, for which I am eternally grateful, the pills are flushed away and I will go and exchange the jacket for my proper size.
My prayers are with all my fellow suffers, but don’t include my consultant!
derek
United States
I’m having sort of the same problem, but it’s just that my ankle was swollen and my knees hurt its starting to slowly go away I haven’t taken it in about a week and I still have some pain. Does anyone know when this will stop? I just don’t want to be in pain anymore.
Piper
USA
Trusting that the celebratory “flushed away” was a symbolic flushing rather than literal. While understanding the desire to wash away the sinful symptoms of pharmaceuticals, I plead with all to never dump unwanted medications into the planet’s water, soil or air systems.
Hopeful
United States
I want to thank everyone for sharing their stories. I started using Gabapentin back in Nov 2014, which has been about 9 months. I was prescribed it to help with my Klonopin (Really Bad Stuff) withdrawals. I was placed on Klonopin for anxiety and stress by a doctor that was not educated in Klonopin. I was taking 3mg of Klonopin for over 9 years. I had crap insurance and couldn’t afford anything in my area to help get me off Klonopin. A good friend who is a doctor in another state helped me wean off Klonopin. We tried numerous ways but Gabapentin at 300mg x3 day along with a low dose of Prosac. It’s been about 7 months at the 900mg a day dosage and I’ve been starting to have side effects. So I decided to just go 300mg a day for awhile, not a good idea to go that fast. I do not suffer from any type of seizure disorder so I’m going to try and wean off of Gabapentin. I’m going to try and do a week or two at 600mg a day (300mg in morning and supper time).
I highly recommend taking Fish Oil supplements to help with your depressed mood as it has been helpful for me. I take 2400mg of Fish Oil daily (1200 in the morning and at night). I have started taking Magnesium supplements of 500mg a day and a multi-vitamin. I’ve read good and bad things about a possible issue taking Magnesium while taking Gabapentin. I figure Magnesium is natural and the most side effect I’ve had is diarrhea if I take too much at one time. I must say that the best medicine that has helped with my panic attacks, anxiety and crazy withdrawals from Klonopin or Gabapentin, has been a little herbal smoke and meditation. Believe it or not “Breathing Exercises” is my best weapon. I started reading about slowing down and counting your breaths during my peak times. I have also noticed during some sort of 20 to 30 min aerobic activity a day also helps. I choose to hit my heavy bag for my exercise when I don’t feel like working out. It gets you breathing!
I mainly want everyone reading this that there is hope! Strengthen your faith along with your health and you will prevail. I’ve had the intense shakes, sweats, muscle spasms, puking, diarrhea, insane thoughts, etc. from my lovely trip being prescribed Klonopin and Gabapentin. Yes, I’m not out of the woods but I’m going to try and push through it. Wish me luck and thank you for all of your stories that helped me prove I wasn’t losing my mind.
Caroline
SC
I was prescribed Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia after Tramadol became a controlled substance and my doctor could no longer prescribe it (waiting for a referral to the pain management center). The Gabapentin makes me terribly tired, lethargic and depressed. I am cutting down on the Gabapentin but if I completely stop taking it I will be in so much pain I can’t function, right now I am in a Catch 22.
I also walk, do yoga and pray along with a little herbal smoke when I can get it. It helps tremendously! Wish I had it all the time but can’t afford that.
Anyway hopefully I will be off the Gabapentin soon and the terrible depression will be gone. For me Gabapentin is a nasty drug!
Michael
St. Marys Ontario
Started with 300 grams per day for nerve pain in my arm. Moved up to 1600 mg per day. Did well for the pain, there were sides. Then after about three weeks the pain subsided so I stopped taking all gabapentin. The first day was great, little pain no meds. Second day was even better. Then I went to sleep, well hi there, I’m your new worst nightmare. Full blown withdrawals absolutely stunning! And I have been around the block. No Dr. or pharmacist told me of these sides, no one ever. This drug is out of control, lives are at stake here. This picture is frighteningly different. No one seems to care? This resulted in an ER visit. Now I’m on 100mg taper dose, I just can’t wait until this is over.
Gina
Hi Hopeful,
First I want to say thank you for your post, it was a great help of inspiration and of strength. Also, valuable information, it will be going to get fish oil tomorrow.
I had taken a much lower dose about a year ago and it didn’t do anything, then about 2 months ago, am seeing a new Dr and she did the same prescription like you, also having some of the same side effects. So, I had been considering slowly coming off of it, and getting more of a natural approach.
I wish you much success and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Stay strong, hopefull, if you need to chat am here
Gina
Hopeful
Indiana
Hi Gina
At the present time I’m not doing so hot. I’ve been lowering my Gabapentin at the same time as my Trazodone. Not wise, for me at least. I’m currently at 600mg a day of Gabapentin and just this week started 12.5mg of Trazodone from my usual of 25mg. Not getting any sleep except maybe 4-5 hrs. My mornings are hell (nauseous, mind racing, restlessness, hard to concentrate), so I’ve started taking Magnesium SRT by Jigsaw Health. Read some positive things. Started seeing a new doctor yesterday and he recommended not lowering any more until he can review my records. Plus I need to stabilize so I can function during the day. I pray things start getting better.
Hopeful
Indiana
I’m still at 600mg a day of Gabapentin, 12.5mg of Trazodone and 50mg of Fluoxetine. Things have leveled out finally but I still have rough days. I haven’t been getting any small workouts in, and that may not be helping. I have also had some stressful deadlines at work. I decided not to taper anymore until I get my blood work results back from my new doctor. He thinks I may suffer from mild sleep apnea that could be heightening my morning anxiety. I’ve done one of two tests at home wearing a monitor. I thought you had to pay to stay overnight somewhere. Anyways stay strong my fellow withdrawal sufferers. I still rely on my breathing exercises and small herbal puffs when needed.
Linda
Ks, USA
My 83 year old mom was on this for two days and had terrible side effects! She was put on it for post herpetic neuralgia. The day after she started it she had fever, tremors, chills and confusion. The next day she had excruciating joint pain so she can’t walk! Her confusion is worse and she still has tremors and very shaky voice. Dear Lord please pray for my mom. Thank God she lives with me now and I can help her. This drug should have NEVER been given to her.
Cheryl
Orange County, CA
I have also taken the drug for sleep and depression. I gained weight and feel swollen and tired.
I now smoke weed and it has been a life saver. I do not have pain and I sleep without feeling like the walking dead.
Trish
I havent read all of the posts here but have considered some. My experience with Gabapentin has been nothing but positive. I am on it for Fibro pain and it has really helped. I am on the max amount per day 1200mg in the UK. It has been really helpful and I dont think I would like to ever part with this med. (it hasnt eliminated all of the pain though). The first thing I noticed is that it makes me really calm and dare I say “happier”. It helps with sleep (although I still take a sleep aid), relaxes me. I havent had the exhaustion I used to suffer with since I took this med so I am actually more up and about and involved in life. My mind seems calmer now than it has ever been all of my life and Im not fretting about things as easy as I used to. Im not really aware of side effects from this med. Yes I have a dry mouth but that comes with taking most meds I think. Just drink more cups of tea so that can only be good (for a Brit girl ). I cry more easily than I used to and I have thought that was the meds but Im not a person who ever cried easily so have a little whinge here and there is actually a good thing too. So thats my story with Gab, love and peace to you all xxx
Colin
South wales
Hi Trish. There seem to be lots of negative stories about the side effects of Gabapentin. I have been taking 300 mgs 3 times a day and will steadily increase until I am on 1,200 mgs 3 times a day over the next month. I have noticed blurry vision, dry mouth, feeling calm like you ( I’m a worrier normally lol ) but also intense dreams too! Have chronic inflammation under my ribs and shoulder for 18 solid months and its got me down so much. Fortunately work takes it off of my mind but yes I guess its just nice to hear a more positive story about this med from you. I hope whatever reason you are talking this med for is improving. An update from you would be fab :)
Patricia
Portland, Oregon
Do not cold turkey this med it can and with put you into a state of psychosis. This is a small detail the Pfizer company does not want people to know. It is not the taking it that creates the problem, its the not taking it that will hurt. Please be careful.
B.R.
Atlanta
I was prescribed this med for pain in my left leg after a discectomy. When I felt no relief, my doctor kept upping the amount. I kept getting more and more tired, had trouble with my balance, and swelling in my ankles. I stupidly did not connect the meds with the symptoms. The real problem began with the increasing depression, which I felt was caused by the pain, disability, and the unexpected loss of my husband just four months before the surgery. Soon I decided that suicide was the only answer, and began carefully planning my exit, made my will, set up my bank accounts, and planned how to shoot myself outside so as to leave the least mess for my children. I was dead serious (no pun intended).
Meanwhile my doctor continued to increase my dosage til I was practically prostrate with tiredness. If I had not worked for a doctor who noticed my frame of mind and alerted me to the side-effects of gabapentin, I would be dead by now. I know everyone doesn’t have these, you should be alert when prescribed this med.
Heatherlyn
Hawaii
I have had fibromyasia since 2009. After just coming off of Cymbalta Oxycontin, and dropping Gabapentin I am very aware of the terrible fibro pain. It’s difficult coming to terms with having to go back on a few medications to even walk and function. I have Plantar Fasciitis in both my feet along with deep achy unbearable pain all over. Gabapentin works well except it causes stiffness in my neck and shoulders.
I’m asking my Dr. for an RX of Savella too. No more Oxycontin, etc.
I have started a compounded Low Dose Naltrexone also. Hopefully this combination will be effective.
Anyone else tried this combination of medications?
Blessings to all who suffer. Know you are not alone, talk to your family. Tell them how you feel, I couldn’t work everyday without the love and support of my family! If not family, friends, Doctors., find someone to talk with.
Barbara
I had some of the same side effects as some other on here. I still believe if I had stayed on it I would not be alive today! I was in the worst pain ever! My brain was so foggy I couldn’t function on any level. Thank God I only took if for little over 1 week. A couple days after stopping it I felt much better. Except now I am in a high state of anxiety that I didn’t have before . My doctor prescribed it for fibro and insomnia
Chelsea
Ontario
Im 16 years old and have a condition called vulvar vestibulitis, very painfull and almost unbearable. I was so relieved when I figured out what it was and was told I could take these pills and eventually they would start to help, they did for a while and still do. I just came across this site after really wondering why I have gotten so stressed out and lately been having suicidal thoughts, cant remember anything when I drink. I don’t enjoy anything I used to. At first it was okay. I started taking them august of last year and I really noticed mood swings in and around December and on from there just got worse. Any time I have any stress from school I don’t sleep for weeks and have anxiety attacks frequently. Cry more often. I also cant loose weight, I eat so little and so healthy and workout 1-2 hours every single day and nothing. I used to have a great metabolism and could eat almost anything without issues. I now binge eat due to stress and frustration. I can never concentrate, school is that much harder. I had had many suicidal thoughts but kept it together just for my boyfriend and family members. I don’t know what else to do, because I don’t want to have these side effects from going off them at any time because i don’t have any time for that. I know the pain was bad, but im definately regretting ever going on them
judy
Los Angeles
Replying to Chelsea – so sorry you have a painful condition. I ended up in this discussion after googling side effects of gabapentin because my sleep doctor said yesterday that he wanted to prescribe it for me. I told him I would read up on it and let him know if I will take it. From what I’ve read, there’s no way I will take it. I have been on Ambien for sleep for many many years and I went to this doctor a year ago for help getting off the Ambien, that is his speciality. He used a common method which is to switch the patient from Ambien, which is short acting, to Valium which is long acting, and then taper the patient off the Valium. This didn’t work for me for a couple of reasons. One was that while I slept like a log on the Valium at first, and was totally off the Ambien (overnight), I also felt very tired and hung over all day on the Valium which I never felt on the Ambien, a milder weaker drug. So, I immediately wanted to taper off the Valium which I started doing after the first week, with the doctor’s agreement, but I found that it stopped getting me to sleep when I cut it down, my body had a very sensitive effect to just cutting it down a little (from 10mg to 8mg–first I went to 9mg and then to 8 within a few days).
So, I ended up using the Ambien again to get myself to sleep because the Valium wasn’t doing that, and meanwhile it was still making me hung over all day, almost till bedtime. I wish I hadn’t gotten on it. I can think of other ways to get off the Ambien and even no sleep is better than taking medications that make me feel tired all day anyway, no energy, not functioning. I have tapered the Valium down to 5mg now, but am back to taking my original amount of Ambien. That’s why the doctor was saying he wanted me to cut down the Ambien, not the Valium, and then Gabapentin could be used to help cut down the Valium.
All this shows me is that generally doctors don’t know a lot about how medications work, and they work differently on different people and all they can do is experiment, trial and error, and if I have other options, then I do not want to be a guinea pig and risk adverse effects to medications which may become chronic and worsen my health, and may themselves need treatment with other medications. So I am trying to get off the Valium, which I WILL do, even if I do it cold turkey (5mg is a small amount and I’m in the process of getting down to 4mg so cold turkey would not be a very extreme change in my case), and then I will cut down the Ambien, with or without sleep, and I will be better off in the short run and the long run than I would if I put more potentially toxic chemicals in my body that doctors really don’t know how to control. Even though I’m down to 5mg Valium, I still feel groggy all day most days. I never felt that way when I was just on Ambien.
Have you done much research on other treatments for vulvar vestibulitis, including holistic kinds of treatments? I hadn’t heard of it before but after reading your post, I googled it. I wasn’t reading up on it long enough to learn about what various treatments doctors try for it, I could see that it’s one of those conditions that isn’t well understood and treatment is kind of trial and error. What I read was some doctors having a conversation and asking questions of doctors who have experience treating this, and it sounds like in a lot of patients, they can be symptom free on medications, but then the question is, what medications? What new and additional symptoms do the medications cause? Apparently in some cases, not all, it depends on the diagnosis, extent and cause of the vulvar vestibulitis, surgery can cure the condition–in some patients. I guess you have probably looked into that. The website I was reading is obgmanagement.com/index.phpid=20667&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=176450
The side effects you are describing, possibly from gabapentin, and even likely to be caused by gabapentin, can’t be doing your quality of life any good, to put it mildly. Suicidal thoughts and weight gain, these are apparently not uncommon, as well as others you described. Suicidal thoughts are obviously potentially life threatening, even for people who feel as if they are in control over it–if the conditions causing it are not dealt with.
I hope you can get some competent skilled medical help from someone experienced with such gabapentin side effects who can help you either to gradually taper off gabapentin (going off abruptly can cause seizures) or who can help you effectively manage and reduce the side effects. If it were me though, what I would not want would be a doctor who reaches for pharmaceuticals as the first and immediate choice for treating poorly understood conditions–in other words, if it were me, would not want to be treated with antidepressants–certainly not without researching the side effects of those and the problems people may have with trying to get off them.
You sound like an intelligent and motivated person—personally, just my take on it given my own experiences, and that’s all they are, just my experiences, and all I can say is what I think I would do if it were me–I think one place to start would be with a good counselor who could listen to the whole picture of what you’re dealing with, the stresses of school, the pain of the vulvar vestibulitis, the side effects of gabapentin, the suicidal thoughts in particular, and your concerns, if you have them, about using other pharmaceuticals to try to deal with the suicidal thoughts, very likely caused by the gabapentin.
If it were me, I would want to find out as much as possible about ways of managing the vulvar vestibulitis pain, alternatives to gabapentin, and then taper off of that.
When you said you don’t have time for the side effects of going OFF the gabapentin, I totally relate to that, and I have stayed on some medications that were harming me for long periods of time because of fearing trying to deal with the effects of getting off them, including the ones I’m on right now, but I am going to get off them because they are harming my quality of life and because I know I can get through it.
That’s why when listening to your story, I was thinking about how I would want to get a counselor who is intelligent and good to talk to and empathic, to help you figure out what to do and how to do it. What I would not want to see is getting a counselor who would be rigid in thinking and would have their own agenda (I’m thinking in particular someone who would insist you try going on more psychotropic medications, I would want to find a very collaborative minded counselor/therapist who doesn’t have those biases).
Keep in mind, I know nothing about this, and maybe it’s necessary to treat suicidal tendencies from gabapentin with other psychotropic medications–that is research I would want to do.
Janelle
United States
You should not drink and take this medication. The combination can cause serious side effects that are life threatening. You could go into a major seizure or go in to a coma. No alcohol when taking this medicine. Also at 16 this medication can have worse psychological side effects. Please seek help if you are having suicidal thoughts. Your life is too precious. I understand severe chronic pain, I live with severe Crohn’s with neurological complications which why I am on this medication.
Chris
Athens, GA
Chelsea,
You may want to look into (or have your doctor / parents investigate) topical therapy. In doing my own research to determine whether topical gabapentin (which would prevent side effects of gabapentin taken orally (pills/capsules)) would be effective for neuropathic pain (nerve pain), I came across some studies (on Pubmed) that indicated success in treating vulvodynia with topical gabapentin. Also, topical lidocaine (used overnight) might also be an option, & I’m sure there are other (topical) possibilities. I’ve learned that most doctors don’t often consider topical therapy, so it’s often not an option patients consider, either.
In any event, best of luck,
Chris
Melanie
Los Angeles
I’ve taken gabapentin on and off for a few years, but only within the past three months have I done so om a regular basis. I have nerve pain in my feet, and bipolar disorder….at first the drug worked wonderfully. I was mentally stable, even happy most of the time. My feet didn’t hurt so much…life was lovely.
However, I gradually increased my dose from 300mg three times a day to a completely INSANE 4000 mg twice a day. Why? Because my body just seemed to WANT it….and I was so calm, pain-free, just content with that dosage…that is, until I gained 25 pounds in two months, my hair started falling out, I was depressed, angry, with a lot of fatigue.
I stopped cold turkey two days ago. This drug is very seductive at first, but soon your body will rebel. Frankly, it’s a dangerous medication and not many doctors even know how to prescribe it. Nor do they understand it at all, it seems. I will NEVER touch this crap again. It’ll turn you into a fat, depressed blob with thinning hair. And mood swings. I wish I had researched it before I took it, but like a fool I trusted the doctor to know everything about it.
judy
Melanie – I’m glad you didn’t have any seizures from abruptly going off such a high dose of anti-seizure medication. I hope you are still OK.
I took valium for about 20 years from the mid 70s to 1994, valium has anticonvulsant effects, and you are not supposed to go off it cold turkey because of a risk of seizures. I did not take it a lot, I was at a low dose for many years, 5mg, not every day, about half the time, I needed it for sleep (I only took it at night) and other nights I slept fine without it. But the last two years I took it, due to changes in my environment that made it really hard to sleep, especially a noisy new neighbor who made very loud noise right under where my bed was, starting at 4 and 5 in the morning, and continuing to 6 and 7, I increased the valium I was taking, gradually getting up to taking it every night, and when I would wake in the night, I would take it again. I could only get a prescription for 30 pills a month so there was a limit on how much I could take, but in the last two weeks, I went up steeply, and got to about 30 mg a night, which is a high dose, but I didn’t take it for more than a few days at that level. And it wasn’t working at all, I developed a tolerance for it. So, I just thought “what’s the point?”, it wasn’t working, and there was no internet then, I couldn’t get any information, so I just quit taking it.
I had some withdrawal symptoms for 3-4 days that were pretty intense, but nothing I couldn’t live with, I was a single parent, my daughter was 9, but fortunately, at that time, by coincidence, not plan, I started a 2 week vacation from work, so while I didn’t cook, I got frozen tv dinners and sandwiches from the store that were already made for us to eat, I still was able to do errands and take care of business. Interestingly, I did sleep every night too, even if only less than a couple of hours, but I thought I wasn’t going to sleep at all, so I was happy about that. But I had this medical book, the Merck Manual, and while I was awake most of the second night, I read the part about valium withdrawal, and it really scared me about seizures.
I was clearly having neurological symptoms, like my nerves would twitch, my arm or leg would jerk, just once, suddenly, and that would happen maybe a couple of times during the day or night for a couple of nights, I guess that was a kind of seizure activity. I also had some hallucinations where I would see things out of the corners of my eyes, but I would know it was the valium withdrawal causing it, and I saw a bug crawling on my arm a couple of times over those few days. I also irritability on the 3rd and 4th day and I started wondering how long that was going to last, and I was at the drug store so I asked the pharmacist and he said on average it lasts about 2 weeks, so I thought that was OK, ,just to know there was an end in sight, I figured I could handle that. I think it was the 3rd day I had the sweating and chills, I was drinking Chinese herb tea during that day, and I felt something change, shift, and I stopped sweating and I just felt deeply better, and I went and made us dinner, and after that, it was pretty much over.
I don’t know anything about gabapentin except that from reading up on it, such as your post, I am definitely NOT going to take it. My doctor was recommending it for sleep yesterday. no way, I’d rather not sleep, seriously.
As for the Valium, after I got of it, I didn’t sleep that great, I got some sleep every night, but I had a really hard intense stressful job and it wasn’t great not sleeping a lot. But I was so happy to be off the Valium, it was worth it. Not long after that, I told the doctor who had been prescribing the valium that I had gone on off it and didn’t need it anymore, although I wasn’t sleeping that good, and he said there was a new medicine out for sleep that wasn’t as strong as Valium and he prescribed that—Ambien. I’ve been on it ever since, but for most of the time, until the past few years, not that much. So now, I am getting ready to go off the Ambien–and the Valium this doctor put me on to get off the Ambien which hasn’t worked, and has done something to me the Ambien wasn’t doing, making me really tired.
Congratulations for getting off gabapentin—again, I hope you’re OK, given the seizure risk. and I would be really interested in hearing how you’ve been doing in other ways too.
Andi
Denver, CO
TL;DR: If you are going to come off gabapentin, take magnesium. It helps get rid of the insomnia, which in turn helps with all the other side effects. After three weeks free of gabapentin, I have a bit more pain (which I am largely able to control with cannabis), but I have seen a great improvement in my ability to remember things and follow conversations.
Full story: I took gabapentin 300mg 3x daily for 2.5 years. I had had memory issues since I started taking the medication, but during those last 6 months, I was constantly losing track of what I was saying midway through sentences. Three weeks ago, I decided to stop taking the gabapentin. I did not wean myself off–I just quit, which I am aware is a no-no, but I was just done… The first day, I felt fine. That night, however, I just could not sleep. Five hours of fitful dozing, followed by three hours of trying to get up and failing, because it felt like something was physically pushing me downward. I was miserable–exhausted, nauseated, and could not take a full breath to save my life.
This continued all through the second day, but before I went to bed that night, I took 100mg of magnesium citrate. I slept straight through and, in fact, slept almost the entire third day. From that point forward, I began taking 100mg 2x daily, and my only remaining side effect was nausea. Thankfully, I live in Colorado, so cannabis is legally available. I was able not only to control the nausea, but also to mitigate a great deal of the pain for which I began taking gabapentin in the first place.
Now, three weeks later, I feel far better than I have in a very long time. My memory is improved, as is my pain and my proprioception. Interestingly, I can now also tell when I am hungry and when I am full, both of which I had stopped being able to do about 1.5 years ago.
The People's Pharmacy
Stopping such a drug suddenly is risky; we don’t recommend it.
keeper
Minnesota
Gabapentin 2400mg for over 5 years now due to neuropathy, spinal nerve injury. I knew it was a serious drug when in the beginning, if I was late taking a dose, I would end up in a fetal position feeling like I could crawl outta my skin. A horrible sensation.
I gained almost 80 pounds in the first year and although I exercise and drink lots of water, I can’t seem to lose any weight. It’s still steadily climbing. I see as I read these comments that now I understand my insatiable sweet tooth is also due to Gabapentin. Hmmm… I didn’t know this. I suffice it with healthy complex carb smoothies, daily. But still the weight continues to rise. I’m so fatigued, I can hardly do much anymore. My alternative to this would be to live with the excruciating nerve pain and still have no quality of life. And that also is in no way a possibility.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I hate taking pills. Always have. Hate being called obese by my medical chart. But the doctors don’t offer options. They want you to be sick. I’m job security, ya know?
Deborah
I just started Gabapentin for fibromyalgia and severe hand and forearm pain. 300mg. just knocks me out, and I am worried that when I am supposed to take this in the daytime I will not be able to function. Has anyone had increased tolerance after time on this drug?
Janelle
Cheyenne
I am being treated for neuropathy and severe Crohn’s, I can not take it during the day. Dr. Change dosing to the night time to help sleep. Pain is starting to get worse during the day and not sleeping as well at night. Talk to the doctor about dosing at night. I have crumbling teeth now, not just this med but combined with Crohns not good.
Trish
Merseyside
Gosh that seems off the scale = far too much to take. The limit in the UK is 1200mg a day and they are not allowed to prescribe more than that. So I dont know what Dr allowed you take that amount but obviously its wrong x
Kim
United Kingdom
I have been on gabapentin 400mg x 3 times daily over year and half now ,The doctors say do you think they help ease pain? ( waiting on lower lumber op ) sciatic netve down leg is unbearable and I have high pain thresh hold.
I was on most and tramadol at same time did cold turkey last year myself as to many meds was told since the two are opiates and shouldn’t have been allowed
I have put on a lot of weight put it down to not sleeping, tablets and less mobile
was put pre gablin but pain consultant says it puts weight on round your midrif and took me of as I’m trying to lose weight
I came to the conclusion do I know if it helps so stopped it this is my second day last night I was in so much pain , sweating, insomnia
so I thought see it out but obviously my wee trial shows it works!
Am awaiting it to kick in please god soon this is unbearable, I have stopped high doses amitriptyline as felt it knocked me out, Yes I hear it supposed to, but I need to function I am a single mum.
Trish legal limit isn’t 1200mg a day hunni if you attend pain specialist the recommendations are 3200mg at top whack I was on it but have reduced yippee was 4 tabs morning 1600mg and 1600mg night I’ve only dropped 800mg daily but better long run
It is the tiredness in mornings with morning dose and other meds kills me.
I’ve not been that bad! Well for a while lol
Moral of my story when doc next asks does gabapentin work that will be yes :-)
Sarah
Boston
Just wanted to add my story… I started gabapentin about 2 years ago for central neuropathic pain and muscle spasms. I had already been in serious constant pain for a few years and had almost given up on living. I had ended up unemployed and, finally, barely getting out of bed because to do anything meant to experience an intolerable amount of pain. I started taking gabapentin and found relief so quickly that I was upset with myself for not having tried it earlier (I tried many other standard medications that didn’t help much or at all and most had terrible side effects).
I improved steadily for over a year to where my pain is now manageable.
I’ll never know for sure what is a side effect of the gabapentin and what is not but as I have started slowly tapering off in the past 6 months, I no longer have daily bouts of deep fatigue.
I struggle with apathy that may be more rooted in the time prior to gabapentin but (other than the year prior to starting) was never a problem for me in the past.
My teeth are a mess. My dentist has me on a special treatment now (things like fluoride toothpaste) because my teeth have deteriorated rapidly since starting this med, I have dry mouth.
I gained 10 lbs rapidly to start. It never got worse than that but the apathy and fatigue made getting it off not yet possible and I am always hungry.
I have nutritional deficiency like a low b12 test and believe I have low magnesium (not easily tested for).
taking a simple b-complex vitamin, some magnesium and acupuncture (I believe) have made my taper down pretty easy so far.
I definitely suggest taking a b complex vitamin, eating well and some magnesium. Gabapentin is thought to diminish nutrients in the body. Chronic pain and stress are also culprits.
If you’re in pain where the consequences are that you’re ready to or have started giving up on life I suggest trying gabapentin. If you don’t live with others or have trusted people in your daily life make sure to keep a journal to see if your mood changes, some people have serious mood changes and we need to keep ourselves safe.
Gabapentin may have given me my life back, I was on the highest possible dose of tramadol and it barely touched the pain, I’m glad I took it.
Still, I believe that gabapentin is now keeping me from a fuller recovery and decent quality of life. I’m down to 300 mg a day this week and my pain levels have not changed. I hope I can manage without it but I’ll never go back to being in constant pain, I would take again if need be.
But, I would never take this off label or before exhausting non medication treatments.
Reita
Ardmore Oklahoma
Help… I was given this by mistake by a pharmacy. Started gabapentin 800 for ibuprofen 800. No doctor monitoring and would take 4-5 a day as I needed thinking it was ibuprofen.. Head went crazy, depressions, could drive for severe drowsiness, nausea, back aches and much more. Took of and in for 3 months till discovered I was given wrong meds. Was in hospital with tight chest, and just couldn’t stay awake. Had taken about 4 by the Eve before hospitalized.
I went off cold turkey and was a wreck that week after. So weak from no sleep and head dizzy and shakes… Coming down my stairs, I woke up in my entry having fell down with my son by my side. Three surgeries later, and it’s been 3 years and have two more surgeries to go on shoulder and sacroiliac to be fused, I was just informed by my lawyer that they have a pharmacist to testify that neurotin / gabapentin 800 does not do this to you the week after you go off them cold turkey! My life is a mess! Depression bad! Marriage strained, I’m in so much pain and do not function well. Work went from 80,000 a year to 13,900… Nerves are shot from all the app and procedures.
And they’re gonna say all my side affects and symptoms are non existent?? I was telling doctors all symptoms even before we discovered the wrong meds. Some of my doctors have said they understand that my head was probably going crazy! The amount I took a day plus mixing with alcohol and other meds should have killed me. I drive like this and with blurred vision endangering I there’s and my grandkids too. This saddens me that they are trying to make me out the liar before I ever knew anything about gabapentin. Any others have all this? I need professional info for court to educate jury.
judy
Good luck with your taper down, I hope you can reduce side effects while continuing pain relief. Gabapentin has a pretty short elimination half life, which means, I think, that if you are cutting down and still not getting return of pain symptoms, that is a good sign. From what I just read from googling, the elimination half life of Gabapentin is between 5 and 7 hours, more or less, meaning that if you stopped taking it (I think), after about 3 days, it would all be out of your body, while some drugs have very long elimination half lives, which means long after you stop taking it, it is still in the bloodstream and having effects on you, though it would continuously be going down. Some drugs have half lives of many days, so the last dose you take would still be in the bloodstream for a month or more. In that case, such drugs would continue to affect a person for quite a while after stopping it. So, if you were tapering off that drug, you might not begin to feel the decrease in its effect for quite a while, but with a drug having a short elimination half life, you would probably be able to tell the effect of the decrease pretty soon. This is just a generalization, there are other things that go into figuring this, but in general, if the medication is quickly eliminated, then as you cut down, you should be able to see the effect of cutting down, while a drug with a long elimination half life would have more of a delayed reaction, where the effects of the decrease catch up with you later. Good luck! Quality of life is what it’s all about and we have to do what we have to do. It’s good to be adaptable and to make changes when things are not working right.
Lucy
NC
Here is a positive comment about Gabapentin. I am grateful that it alleviated my mother’s excruciating hip and leg pain. She has an erosive form of osteoarthritis. Nothing touched that pain, and she would take her pain medications too close together, and it affected her kidneys. She also began to act irrationally. We were fortunate that during a hospital stay, a doctor took her off stronger pain medications and patches, and tried this drug. Her pain left, her sanity returned. The side-effect was blurry vision in one eye sometimes, but she was over age 85, no longer driving , and being sane and pain-free was a tradeoff. We could care for her at home rather than have her put into a dementia unit of a nursing home.
judy
That’s great! That is a success story.
Darleen
illinois
thank you.
Tom
Madison, WI
I have had no side-effects from gabapentin (at least nothing I’ve considered negative). I take 1200 mg 3xday and have been for several months now.
In general, if you can deal with a problem without pharmaceuticals, you should.
Anecdotal evidence. I used to work as a nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility on the surgical rehab wing. We had a knee surgery patient who wouldn’t even take vicodin for pain control. Acetaminophen and that was it. When the R.N. asked her why, she said “I’ve been working in a pharmaceutical lab for decades and I know what’s in the drugs and what the unlisted side-effects are. I’ll deal with the pain.”
Jessica G.
Lexington, KY
I have been on gabapentin for over a year now. I have blurred vision, nasty thoughts about myself, I’m tired all the time, and I have gone from 100mg per day to 900-1200mg just to get any relief at all. To make matters worse, the doctor that prescribed it for me is making me go to a neurologist to be weaned off of it! So basically, I’m paying for his mistake, and I had to wait 6 weeks just for that referral to come available.
I’m hoping to go on Lyrica. I have peripheral neuropathy (non-diabetic).
Good luck to us all. Prayers to you that you become pain free.
Nan
Canada
I’m gob-smacked! I had no idea how severe and plentiful,the side effects of Gabapentin are.
It was prescribed for nerve pain (which caused twisting in my feet and legs) due to spinal damage.
It’s been about a year now, I’m taking approx…1200 mg spread out through the day.I was also having depo-medrol injections for Fibromyalgia. I stopped those, thinking they were causing the side effects. It has been months of more side-effects than I ever thought possible. I thought I was losing my mind…and then I found this page…I am normally a happy person, now I cry too much and life doesn’t hold much joy for me.
I need to wean myself off …and perhaps only use them when absolutely necessary…
I want to thank all of you for sharing your stories….I don’t feel so alone and scared anymore.
Jessica G.
You actually shouldn’t use them “only when necessary.” It’s one of those drugs that has to build up in your system, thus the weaning process. Good luck!
Barbara
Be careful with lyrica. I was on it for 1 yr for fibro. I gained about 70 pds in that time and fell two different times, both times breaking a bone. My friend took lyrica, it made her feel so drunk she couldn’t stand up. I realize it helps some people but has serious side effects for most. I am now trying a herbal supplement called Gaba calm, just tried it last night for the 1st time so not sure if it will work without bad side effects yet. Since I had serious effects from gabapentin I am afraid of it, but willing to try
Edie
North Carolina
Took 100 mg tab for nerve pain due to bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and it took me two days to get over the effects of that 1 pill. I’ll never take it again.
Dawna
Omaha, NY
I started Gabapentin 100-200mg at bedtime to address cervical neck disk problem and stenosis. I’ve been on it approximately 2 years. Last month I began to experience tinnitus. Anybody else? I’ve stopped taking Gabapentin two days ago. Looking through this thread, I suppose I might have to wean myself off. But this tinnitus is NUTS! I hope it stops…
Barbara
Kansas
I took Gabapentin 100 milligrams daily for 9 days only for anxiety and developed tinnitus. Discontinued the drug approximately one week ago. There are periods of improvement, but it is not completely resolved. It seems to be made worse by stress and anxiety. What is the status of your tinnitus? Hope you are going better.
Barbara
Kansas
Resending this reply since the previous email address was inadvertently incorrect. I took 100 mg of Gabapentin for 9 days only and then discontinued approximately one week ago when I developed tinnitus. It improves periodically for a time but is not completely resolved. What is the status of your tinnitus? Hope you are doing well.
rp
United States
This med gabapentin is crazy, hard time making sentences too, really hard time concentrating, I drink a lot of diet pepsi with it so it makes me real anxious too and tired, fatigued, but it has got rid of hot flashes for me and helps with the arthritis pain, I get real worried about the chest pain and shortness of breath though, guess I need to call my doctor.
lauren phillips
kingwood, wv
Gabapentin should not be considered non narcotic. It has all the above mentioned side effects and more. The FDA should be looking closer at this medication. I do not understand why we cannot treat the living better than we treat the dying. People are people, not case numbers. One size DOES NOT FIT ALL. Insurance companies limit the length of stay for patients they treat with medications resulting in adverse reactions, side effects and even death.
bob
peoria, az
I am having an argument with my PharmD son. He insists that gabapentin crosses the blood brain barrier and therefore would act as a sedative. He says this because because many of his compounding customers feel tired, sleepy or dizzy when taking gabapentin.
I counter with the fact that he can not find any proof that gaba can cross the blood brain barrier and all reports of sleepiness or tiredness are very short term and due to something beyond the gabapentin. I myself use supplements to manufacture gaba in the brain.
tim
ohio
I’ve been on gabapentin for a long time I’m having a problem in the bedroom and don’t know if its the drugs or not.
Lee
Texas
Was on 10mg hydros, 4 times a day, Dr. then put me at 3 times a day, Thanks to the DEA and its NEW reschedule of Hydro, Drs are less likely to prescribe. So Dr. put me on 300mg a day three times a day. 1st week dizzy and confused, wore off and it worked quite well on Pain.
I have High blood pressure, started noticing ringing in ears and blurred vision. I noticed that my blood pressure started to rise after taking Gaba. I didn’t realize that Gaba could raise blood pressure, My doctor should have at least gone over with me that this could be a problem. In there pursuit to get everyone off narcotics, they are prescribing far worse drugs that due more damage than good.
Barbara
Are you still on Gabapentin and has the ringing in your ears gotten any better? I developed ringing after 100 mg per day for 9 days only and discontinued at that point — approximately one week ago. Hope you are going better.
Deborah
Milwaukee
I would say it is the gabapentin. Blocking nerve pain for me also blocks the nerve response to pleasure.
Dan
Atlanta
My psychologist prescribed this for me as a supplement to opiate withdrawal medication. It was 5 years ago. “It would help me relax,” she said. My mother had just passed away, and it seemed to be working. Soon I was up to 1600 mg daily, the “maximum effective dose,” from what I read at the time. I was under the delusion that the drug was rather benign, however, what I’m reading lately makes me think that what I considered relaxed is really the sluggishness I’ve been feeling for so long. My blood pressure has been high, but I never suspected a drug that had a “calming” effect could be the culprit. I think it’s time for me to get off this medication. As creatures of habit, sometimes it’s tough to make a change, even for the better. I’m glad I took the time to re look at this drug, otherwise there’s no telling how many more years I might have suffered.
GAYLE
United States
This is the worst medication I have ever been prescribed. 1200 mg a day added to the 21mg a day of vicoden that I take for rather severe mouth pain. If you can imagine someone who can check off every single major side effect and some of the minor side effects. I thought I was going blind. I was terrified that I was developing dementia. The depression was so severe that I seriously considered suicide. My only stabilizing moments were knowing that my little dog would have no one to love and care for her if I was gone. Being off balance I was sure that I would fall in front of people. Plus I gained 20 lbs in less than 8 weeks. 4 weeks ago my granddaughter found out that I was taking Gabapintin and was horrified because she had researched the effects for some other reason. I did not look into much but quit pretty much cold turkey. The hot flashes were as bad as anything I had during menopause. It has been 3 weeks since I quit so guess I am though the worst. I can actually see the computer screen now so I am researching – – and hope I can warn other people of how horrible and how debilitating this medication can be.
Injured
Anyone else become ravenous with Gabapentin? Really fast weight gain? I’m up almost 10 pounds in a few weeks. Maybe as another poster said I’m not staying hydrated, causing me to crave carbs (sweets!). I never made that connection.
GAYLE
Yep – extremely hungry – but I tried to keep that in check. Put on 20 lbs anyway. Dry mouth = water by my side always.
Jodi
Atlanta
I have been on Gabapentin for about one month and I have gained 15 pounds and drinking like crazy in dialysis already….. please help.
Lrus
Hell
I also have been prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain big mistake I am now on the couch 5 days into withdrawals. This medication is addictive and I was never told this. I am so angry at my dr the FDA and anyone else that is ok with this evil pill. I want to sue them all. I am actually fighting for my sanity back.
Sorry I am ranting but I find it so unfair that the people we trust to keep us safe can get away with prescribing this pill and not going over all the withdrawal symptoms with patients it’s just a crime in itself hopefully I can come back in a month and shed some light on my prognosis to u all who r enduring this painful experience good luck to us!!!
onyx
Yes, I’m hungry, but even though I only eat the same amount as always, and resist the excess hunger, I’ve gained weight. You can’t help it on this drug. I exercise, too.
Bob
In the truck
Went on 12-1500 mg a day to relieve overbite headaches 5 yrs ago. Worked great for about 2 yrs then had to increase dose. A yr ago my VA doc put me on 3 x800 a day so I increased my 300 ‘ s so as not to waste them but started having diarrhea every bite after eating. VA doc had found blood in my urine too. The second day I took those 800 mg slugs I had cramps. Went to a NIH website and saw the side effects and cut my dose in half. Felt so much better the next, I was getting weak since I wasn’t getting any nutrition. So much better now. Never felt suicidal. Good luck everyone.
John
Long Branch, NJ
I just started very light dose of this. 100 MG 3x daily. And the fact is, it seems to give me heart arrhythmias. I’ve been haVing trouble with fasciculations in my forearms, and some paresthesia down my spine. And very high anxiety. Well see what happens next. But I don’t think this drug is worth strange feelings near my heart. Honestly, smoking pot seems to make me feel way better.
Chris
Suffolk, Virginia
I have Cervical Spinal Stenosis. Bad pain in my neck and arms.
Tried 100mg 3 X day also. It helped, but then I developed sleepiness, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Also whole body shocks and unexpected times. Marijuana worked the best, but the DEA has my Pain Doctor do a urine test every visit. She told me she could loose her license if she treated me with Norco 10mg 3 x day and allowed me to smoke MJ. And I have to pay a $200 copay for the test. I am very upset about this and wrote everyone from the President on down. So I am going to have to do the best I can with Gabapentin and NSAIDS. I can’t believe our Government has put this burden on my shoulders.
ana
l.a.
yup sad thing the DEA has done to all chronic pain patients, 30 day scripts are for kids I’m 58 ddd severe intractable …am I getting myself trapped after 10 yrs norcos now dr swithin me over to gabapentin? First side effect severe migraines never had a headache before as bad. but sure took the spine pain away..
Shell
I originally went on Gabapentin to treat lingering pain from a shingles outbreak. The shingles pain went away quickly, but I also noticed that the Gabapentin decreased my chronic pain from my fused cervical spine, and my headaches and disabling migraines became much, much less frequent (from daily to rarely). My doctor chose to keep me on Gabapentin to continue those benefits. (I had tried so many medications to prevent or stop migraines, and nothing had worked before. And I’d resigned myself to living with chronic pain from the spinal fusion. Gabapentin gave me pain relief and hope!!)
After about 8-9 months on Gabapentin, my night vision got so bad that I didn’t want to drive at night. I was out later than I expected to be one day, and had to drive home in the dark, during a rainstorm. I was terrified! My vision was very blurred and just… off… (don’t have the words to describe it) and I felt like I was driving blind. I literally drove 20mph and pulled over to the curb every time a car got behind me. I went to the ophthalmologist, who did a number of tests, and then told me that my eyes are fine. The problem was coming from my brain — with Gabapentin being the likely cause.
I weaned off the Gabapentin — without telling my doctor — and at first, felt fine. This was around the end of November. Then the headaches came back, a week or so later, followed by disabling migraines. By the first week of January, I was back in the doctor’s office, getting the standard four-injection “migraine cocktail” (it works, but it hurts!). And my doctor said, “What happened is simple. You stopped taking your migraine medicine and your migraines came back.”
So I’m back on Gabapentin. I think that over the 8-9 months I was on it previously, I’d forgotten how bad my migraines truly are, and what it’s like to have them daily and have to go to the doctor’s office, urgent care or even the ER for relief. I can get by without driving at night. And I’ve noticed that the Gabapentin is helping me sleep better at night. And there are other pros and cons. For now, on balance, I’m taking my Gabapentin! It may not be a forever-med for me, but it’s definitely the right right-now med and I’m grateful to have it.
judy
That’s really interesting that in your case (and others) it has helped with migraines. My daughter gets daily headaches and migraines several times a month, and has for years. For a long time she’s been on RealPax for the migraines, but she says it’s not working as good as it did, and she only gets 12 pills a month from the insurance, even with a $400 copayment. So, I am curious and wondering what a migraine cocktail injection is and how effective it is. If you would rather have the gabapentin than the migraine cocktail injections, there must be something about the injections that is a major problem? I’m glad you’re getting pain relief. My daughter is not a person who should take anything that can cause suicidal ideation and I know she would not take gabapentin. She scrutinizes potential side effects before taking anything.
Patricia
Utica, NY
Gabapentin practically knocked me out on the first dose of 300mg. Rx read: 300mg every 4-6 hours. I immediately experienced crippling side effects associated with it – dizziness, profound loss of energy/tiredness, unpleasant mood, depressive feelings. I could not function for the next 12 – 24 hours or so.
Thinking my reaction might be dose-related I tried it at half dose after recovering and still felt much worse, with somewhat milder effects of the same symptoms.
Gabapentin should never have been prescribed for my condition anyway – “idiopathic” progressing peripheral neuropathy with ataxia. I think I know why the prescribing neurologist thought it might help, so I will not blame him for that, but the fact is that it did nothing whatsoever to alleviate the nerve symptoms I experience that are harbingers of increasing nerve damage, even while causing the most extreme side effects.
me
ma
BAD BAD BADDDDD started use to get off drug addiction, 800mg 3 times a day…honest and truthful PAY ATTENTION!!! at first great tons of energy so so happy, soon after mean and nasty mood swings highly unusual for me really! Cant finish my sentences like WOW memory loss…crapped me brains out…tried to stop felt awful, no energy, sweating, aches, anxious like never before….but worse got pregnant doc assured me it was no prob (almost no studies on this by the way) my child cant pay attention, angry, cant control emotion, cannot sleep!!! could this just be her maybe? but I HIGHLY Highly do not think so has no other probs but shes 3 and still cant sleep the night…oh and we both have gas….no lie worst thing ever…sound crazy I know just no time at the moment! educated 30yr old normal law student small drug prob short lived and then all this due to this drug
judy
So sorry to hear about this—-and how could this drug be prescribed to someone with a developing fetus inside them? My doctor told me yesterday he wants to prescribe this for me to get off a mere 5mg a might (for sleep) diazepam dependence. Don’t they ever think to sit and talk to you about pros and cons, and to seriously consider that maybe you would want to choose to just stop the diazepam and not sleep as well, rather than risk so many serious side effects? Even staying on 5 mg diazepam or less is so much less risky than gababpentin. My doctor is thinking that i would just be on the gabapentin for a short time while i wean off the diazepam. I asked, “how difficult is it to get off the gabapentin?” He said it was not a problem at all. I really believe he thinks that, I don’t think he’s lying, but if I’m a person who has tendencies to be dependent on things that help me sleep, why would it be any easier for me to get off gabapentin than diazepam? I know that he is thinking of the elimination half life, at least I think so. But it’s good to read all of these posts—including the people who have decided that taking gabapentin is a lesser of evils, such as the person with disabling migraines, or the two people who reported freedom from agonizing nerve pain, each of them said the gabapentin effects were bad but they preferred that to the nerve pain (or the woman with night blindness). What I have complained to this doctor about with the diazepam is that it makes me feel hung over all day. He started me on it to substitute it for the Ambien I’ve been on for about 20 years and am at a pretty high dose now, 25mg a night in two doses (very short acting). I should have known better but I followed his advice, took 10mg diazepam, stopped the Ambien, and sure enough, it worked, I slept better on the diazepam and I was off the Ambien, overnight, just like that. But, not only did I sleep well on the Valium/diazapam. I felt like I should be asleep all day, groggy, hungover. And I hated that. I never got that from Ambien. Why take something for sleep if it’s going to make you feel wiped out and tired all day? that was the reason for taking something for sleep, to NOT feel that way. So, he says he would like me to cut down on the Ambien that I went back on when I got a tolerance to the Valium and am now taking both, and then after getting off the Ambien, he wants me to take gabapentin to help me wean off the Valium. So… I’m supposed to take a medication that will make me feel wiped out all day and groggy, and who knows what else, in order to get off a medication that makes me feel wiped out and groggy all day? And this is because, he says, it’s easy to get off gabapentin, unlike Ambien and to a lesser extent Valium. Geez.
I keep coming back to realizing, I just need to get off all of this, and just sleep less, and I will have a supply of Ambien to take occasionally to catch up on sleep or if I have an early morning appointment, but just make the choice and get off these poisons and work on non pharmaceutical solutions. And enjoy life, and when I’m tired during the day if I don’t get enough sleep, just remember back to when I was on diazepam and I felt groggy and no energy for a year, even though I got great sleep. I’m not on this planet to be asleep.
Good luck with your little one. No one will ever “know” for sure what the cause of her symptoms are, but the point now is to find solutions to help her, and with your wisdom that you’ve gained through your experience, she probably has a better chance to improve.
Debra
United States
Here is information regarding how it could have affected your child:
http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2009/10/study-pinpoints-key-mechanism-in-brain-development-raising-questions-about-use-of-antiseizure-drug.html
Anyone else who might become pregnant while taking Gabapentin, needs to read this, as well.
Greg
Colorado
I took gabapentin for a lower back injury for a short time. I complained to my doctor that I was having abdominal upset. He said that was unusual and left me on the medicine. My stomach issues continued until I stopped taking the drug for this reason. After telling my doctor of this I was scolded told I could not be put back on the medication (as if I would consider this, not). He would no longer provide me with any pain medication because I stopped taking it without his permission even though I had complained of stomach problems. He did however refer me to his partner for injections. I guess my pain must have disappeared in his mind while I waited on this new appointment at a clinic 70 miles from my home. Oh the joy of those car rides to and from this pale attempt at healthcare. I was never offered pain meds during or after these injection treatments. I suffer from moderate to severe Neural foraminal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica and (in the words of a neurosurgeon), a destroyed disc. After this treatment I avoided seeing another back specialist for 2 years because of the experience. My pain but I wasn’t going to pay these educated a-holes another cent for what was essentially neglect and lack of compassion.
Trey P.
Van Wert, OH
I have seen a lot of bad comments about this drug. For me personally, I feel it has given me some of my life back. I have unexplained pain in both of my legs, hips, testicles, and pelvic area. I am going to be 25 next month. This pain of mine started in my right testicle when i was 16 years old. Doctors assume it’s nerve pain caused by head trauma that I suffered from a car accident in 2005. The pain only got worse and worse.
All tests I have had done over the last 9-10 years have found nothing. Everything comes back normal. Anyway I have been on Gabapentin for a little over 2 years now. I take 1200 mg through out the day. I’m just going to say that I am still functionable and can live my day to day life with a chronic dull pain, but without the Gabapentin I hurt so bad i can hardly walk anymore. Gabapentin is a God send to me, not to mention that I previously suffered major depression before ever being put on Gabapentin and I feel that this medication has worked better for my depression than any SSRI I have ever been prescribed. I still get down and depressed sometimes. I suffer from a lot of anxiety, but Gabapentin has made my life better than what I would have to go through without it. I’m actually very afraid of being taken off of it.
Nathan
Los Angeles, ca
In my case, Gabapentin 300 mg twice daily, had been prescribed anxiety and pain management after internl trauma that result in a significant portion of my colon and intestines being removed, which left me on a ostemy bag for six months. My appendix went nuclear, blew out, never told me and I walked around like a zombie for three weeks until ER Dr told I was not likely to survive due to the toxic infection I had raging in me. Gabapentin has been. A God send in my recovery with the exception that I have manage the propensity to gain water weight caused by the salts and to make sure that it doesn’t cause myself to be dis inhibited – not every one needs to know how I feel about them. Swelling will occur if become dehydrate. Additionally when swelling occurs from the lack of drinking water I then carve carbs.
R Lucy
Westminster MD USA
Unlike most of you posting here, my doctor put me on Gabapentin for anxiety that came with withdrawal from methadone(yes, an off label use, but thank goodness he did) back in August. I currently take 600 mg(300mg in the morning, 300 in the evening)and it really helps! I sleep better, I feel better, I’m less anxious and I’m definitely not angry. I do know from reading the info that comes with the medication that about 1 in 500 people do have mood issues from taking this and that does sound rather high. My question for a lot of you is(and I know this is a sensitive question) why don’t you use opiates? If you are in severe pain, that’s what they are for! I’m tired of doctors in this country thinking everyone is drug seeking, many of you sound like you may need heavier meds. Just a thought, not trying to stir up trouble. Hope you all get the help you need! Happy New Year!
Greg
Colorado
“My question for a lot of you is (and I know this is a sensitive question) why don’t you use opiates?” You ask. As of now there is a concerted effort by members of the government and medical industries to substantially limit access by deserving individuals to opiate pain relievers. The persons/patients who actually need this medicine are being made to jump through hoops to prove they continue to need it and to even purchase it. Sadly the people hurting are the ones they continue to hurt with these new unreasonable regulations. Another problem is big pharmacies like walgreen’s for example who feel they are part of this new police force and have even adopted questionable business practices such as secret in company list of patients the pharmacist suspect of medication abuse. All of this based on speculation not fact. I have on more than one occasion been told by a walgreens pharmacist about new regulations by the DEA that when checked simply do not exist.
Injured
Florida
“All of this based on speculation not fact. I have on more than one occasion been told by a walgreens pharmacist about new regulations by the DEA that when checked simply do not exist.”
Oh, so they lied to me too. Wal Mart has been mysteriously “out” for months, and they “don’t know” when they will get it in.
Really this issue should be something we advocate and lobby our local and state representatives. The government is moving in a more conservative direction and seeks to deny pain relief to people whose lives are miserable without aid.
Otherwise, we as patients need to go “Dallas Buying Club” on the DEA.
Chris
Here in Virginia, my pain doc gives me a urine screen every month. The Lab charges $900.00. My Pain doc lab wants me to pay $200.00. This is all because the DEA has come down on Pain docs. I can’t believe I am being treated like a criminal because I have pain. I’d rather be dead than suffer w/o pain meds. Why should I have to pay for these drug test’s anyway ?
The DEA sucks.
Ian Dixon
Kent UK
Was on 3600mg of gabapentin per day for sciatic pain associated with a back problem. Was on that dose for 8 weeks. Have had successful surgery and the sciatic pain has gone but now am having to slowly wean myself off the gabapentin. Have significant muscle weakness and joint pain but not sure if this is just a consequence of being so inactive for 3 months. Am now down to 900mg per day. Dropping 300 mg every 4or5 days. Am aware of no other side effects on me !
It did provide some limited pain relief but if I had been aware of all the problems that it can cause I am not sure I would have agreed to take it.
David
Texas
Gabapentin is the worst drug I have ever experienced!!!! It gave me profound shortness of breath, and I felt and am still feeling like I will have a heart attack if I move around at all, even slow walking. I reported this to the FDA and my doctor. It was prescribed as pain meds to help relieve severe right leg pain after back surgery.
John
Did your breathe come back?
Daniel
Oahu hawaii
Why can’t u just stop the GABA cold turkey from 2x600mg a day? I’ve been on about 3 months now after a one week start up of 100mg2xa day… So as a crow flys lets say roughly 3.5 montgs now if the GABA… About past 2 weeks noticed really bad hand/leg nerves (not too uncommon with my conditions). 36y/o male active duty Army getting medically retired forever for ALOT of multiple deployments that physically weren’t kind to me…
Anyways… This past weekend had to go to ER cause feet,ankles, and calls& hands and wrists were Edema like BAD…
Doc assumed gaba to be culprit and stopped it COLD TURKEY…
Why is this so bad???
The People's Pharmacy
The difficulty with stopping gabapentin (Neurontin) abruptly is that withdrawal may trigger seizures, which would add to your current woes.
KDelphi
Ohio
Any tips on getting off of it? (It was prescribed for me for nerve root injury) I HAVE to take something—-but the side effects of this are–maybe literally–killing me. I have a left leg motorcycle injury that makes my left leg shorter and much less muscular, so, when I fall, it really terrifies me….it also left a nasty “carpet burn” right on my forehead! (something I did not need) Thanks….
Pastor Danny Ray Fowler
Sherman New York
Doing research before I start taking this. Have a Jesus Filled day.
KDelphi
Ohio
I wondered what was causing all these side effects…I hope the facial scarring (from falling) and hair loss are not permanent… they should be further sued… why aren’t people angry that we never get to hear about this crap until we are all sick? US needs to demand Big Pharma stop profiting off of human misery.
Amanda
South Carolina
I am a 39 year old female, 5’7″ , 125 lbs. (just giving my stats to let you know that weight is not my issue) I have spinal stenosis, ruptured L4 and L5, and sciatica. The ruptured discs began compressing a nerve a few months ago. The pain was so horrendous that it woke me at night. A full night’s sleep was gone, I was dozing on the couch with one leg propped on a pillow, and I had to quit my job. I developed debilitating knee pain, believed to be due to the back pain affecting my gait, but I’m not convinced. Even once the pain subsided, the knee was still horrible. I was referred to a Spine/pain management center where I was put on gabapentin. This is the only drug I take.
I had taken this nearly ten years earlier and had some severe side effects such as depression, thoughts of suicide, unstable mood, etc. but as I was in a much better place all around (besides the physical part of life) I assumed things would be fine, and I did discuss this with my doctor and we felt fully confident in our awareness and knowing the “signs”. Fast forward to now, five weeks later. The first few weeks were good, I actually appreciated the “buzz” I felt after a dose. I’m on 600 mgs three times a day. The pain, although not gone, is manageable, minus the weakness in my knee and lower leg, and the paresthesia seems to have worsened. I will exchange tingling for pain any day! And, not to mention, I slept like a baby. A few days ago, I began to notice that I was so agitated, for no reason. Just plain pissed off. I typically do not get to this stage of agitation, and can reason with myself when I am upset, but I illogically could not. My filter was gone and if I thought it, I said it. I said things to people I love that I wouldn’t say to those I do not. I felt no remorse, either. I had a thought last night that I should just go kill myself. Fortunately, I immediately got upset and told my husband, who also said the past three days with me have been hard and he could see me becoming violent. I have stopped taking it. I know that it is not recommended to do this but the risk is worth it. I’ve been off one day and I already feel emotionally better. I have fear of what’s to come pain-wise, but I would have hurt someone or myself had I continued taking this.
I hear that some people have amazing results from gabapentin, and that it’s a God-send; unfortunately, I’m not one of those people. I will just have to keep trying to find what works and pray that my attempts will not be like this one. Much luck to you all.
Nathan
One of the known Side effects is possibly becoming dis-inhibited. We had seen this in my son who was taking it for anxiety, and we discontinued it for him but suddenly his confidence was gone. We have since tried it at lower dose are getting some of the initial benfit without the being dis inhibited.
CC
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
I just finished reading so many comments on this drug neurotin/gabapentin and feel I have finally found the cause of many symptoms that have plagued me for several months. I, like many others, have been on “gaba” for nerve root pain that can be so painful I cannot even move. I have been on Topamax for a while and felt it did its job, but in July of this year my pain became worse and did not subside with my meds. I asked my Dr. about “gaba” and told him I had tried it a couple of years ago with no problems, so he gave me my script. In hind sight, I didn’t take it for very long, unlike this year where I have been on it for six months.
I have been experiencing some of the awful side effects describe by many others on this site. The first being terrible nightmares, then very dry skin, fatigue, foggy & groggy during the day, then my hair just starting falling out in the shower. This was the most troubling as most of us know finding tons of hair in your hands can mean terrible medical issues. Then weight gain!!!! I have to admit it was slow but then bam! Nothing I wore in July fits me now. I started thinking about my thyroid and adrenal glands as these have similar symptoms of gaba. I have finally come to the conclusion it is my medicine, gaba. If you can look at the time period of when you started taking this and when the problems started you will find they match up. I was taking 600mg 3 x a day and will be only taking one a day for a while until it is safe to stop. Meanwhile, I know I will endure more nerve pain which is the lesser of two evils. I plan on going to my Dr. for pain management and trying something else anything else. I don’t know if going back to Topamax is the right idea either as it messes with your minds and functions, I to found trying finish sentences became an issue, just made me feel stupid. I just don’t know if there is a drug out there that helps you with your problems and doesn’t give you more in the meantime. I will try and update when I have better news.
Deb
Pgh,Pa.
I have been on Gabapentin for 2 years,400mg at night,100mg in AM as well as mid afternoon. It did help in the beginning for chronic migraines and fibro. Started to be forgetful, memory loss, I could go on and on. I had to take months off work as I could not drive or function let alone get sleep. It was while I was off that I really started to think that it could be the Gabapentin causing all my issues and not the migraines at all(bad migraine every morning). Well against my neurologist orders I started weaning myself off the med and boy what a difference I am feeling in a weeks time, and my family tells me they see a difference(not looking like a zombie). It is a slow process but I know I am on my way. It’s so hard to realize when you go day to day that all these things are happening to you until you step back and take a good look.I stayed in bed and slept last night, first time in over a year and did not wake up with a headache. I have not fallen in 3 days now that’s a bonus, people started asking me if I had MS because I would stop mid sentence because I forgot what I was saying. If you don’t have to, don’t take this med, too many side effects that sneak up on you, but then again what works for one may not work for another. Good Luck to anyone trying to get off this medication because the withdraws are terrible.
Charles C.
I wish you would go “on and on” so we know what symptoms you are talking about. As it is we have to guess and that’s not very helpful.
Donna
St. Louis, MO.
Please do inform your primary care doc that you are concerned about your Thyroid, as you are showing classic signs. I recently had abnormal Thyroid studies , but takes ages to see the Endocrinologist she referred me to. See, I am wondering if the relatively modest amount of Gabapentin I was on caused my nerve entrapment issues, then the unthinking Neurologist increased to unthinkable 4800mg/day, even though 5’3 and 105-107lbs at the time, which put me in the state I am in today. Now, at 3200mg/day, but at very slow pace, as is accompanied by significant pain. Still have a road ahead of me. Please keep us posted on your progress, and getting down to the cause of your problems.
Andromache
Georgia
I currently have a herniated C4/5 disk, and I had disk fusion/replacement on C 5/6 and 6/7 five years ago. I’m not quite 49 years old, so I am considered young to have so many spinal problems. And yes, I’d love to lose 25-30 pounds. There’s some scar tissue and spinal stenosis around the C4/5 area, plus osteophytes throughout my cervical and upper thoracic spine. I live with pain, though most days, it’s bearable. I would say that 20/30 days a month, I manage well with over the counter Tylenol and Naproxen (both twice a day), plus one dose of a prescription medication, Tramadol.
I take vitamins, calcium, red rice yeast, flaxseed oil, and fish oil, plus Slo-Niacin, which have really helped my cholesterol. I see my ortho about every 3-6 months to check on my spine and my PCP or her PA about every 6 months–to monitor triglycerides. However, about 5-10 days each month, I have severe pain in my spine–usually on days when I am working long hours or have to drive a long distance. When I say pain, I mean if a kidney stone = 10 and childbirth without any meds = 8, this is probably a 7.
I tried Lyrica before my first spine surgery–I felt awful, and it did nothing for the pain. My recent ortho suggested Neurontin, but I refused since I knew Lyrica hadn’t helped. A few weeks ago, I felt and bruised my ulnar nerve (PCP wanted an x-ray to rule out fracture). The only thing the doctor could give me was Neurontin. It does help somewhat–let’s say it cuts pain by 25-30%–but I’m terrified at the side effects I’m having after just 5 days. My arms and legs feel detached from my body and have a pins and needles sensation. My lips feel numb. The headaches are blinding. I’m constantly dizzy. I’m only taking 300 mg, am and pm.
I feel spaced out, and it’s not a pleasant thing. I am getting frustrated because I can’t think clearly (I’m having a slow time typing this!) I dare not drive for fear of having a wreck–so I only take the Neurontin after I get to work and at night. I was told to take it for 2 weeks to give it a chance to work/my body to adjust… I’m not sure I can keep this up. Are there any other alternatives out there? For me, the very small benefit is being outweighed by the side effects. Thank you!
jan
ct
Been on gabapentin 900mg for 6 months now…2nd time around. First time, I was only on 400 mg for neuropathic pain (works great) then and now. However; since taking it I have neuropothy of both legs after a short period of time on feet (15 minutes) and serious swelling in legs/ankles. I am not looking forward to the horrid withdrawal of this medication again.
Elizabeth
Reading
I have been on Gabapentin 1200 mg 3 x a day for years for nerve pain I also suffer from ptsd depression among other stuff I am 33 and my hair is now thin and didn’t know why it keeps falling out by the handfuls. My teeth are turning black and chipping. My body twitches. I have loss of function in my hands and loss of memory. Bad confusion insomnia diarrhea. Bloating. Swelling in my feet and told my Dr. how drained I am and how I have mood changes. But I’m still on it.
Sandy
PA
Can gabapentin turn teeth gray and make them partly transparent?
I was on gabapentin for three years following spinal surgery. After awhile my teeth felt sticky. It was very hard to wean off the 300mg 3Xper day. I inadvertently tripled the dosage for about 2 months because I thought each capsule was 100mg (so I could titrate it down), but the pharmacy changed it back to 300mg. I developed worse tingling in my hands and feet and my body seemed to create more tingling so I would give it more gabapentin!
When I tried to wean on my own, I got depressed and the muscles across my ribs were contracting. I learned these could be withdrawal symptoms.
I finally was able to stop taking it with the schedule given to me by the neurologist, and I also had physical therapy (not sure how that helped).
A few months later I noticed about half my front tooth was gray and became almost transparent. Have you ever seen this with gabapentin? I don’t take other meds. Is there a natural remedy for a gray/transparent tooth?
Paula
Texas
This article was well written. I came across it doing a search for ‘hair loss and gabapentin’. It doesn’t show up in the standard side effects for the drug, but I figured users would know, and I was right.
I have been on it for almost two years for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome caused by a major hand surgery. My dilemma is that it provided immediate relief from a very bad syndrome, but I am having more and more issues with the side effects. I cut myself back in the past 6 months to only 900mgs and I still have hair loss, fatigue, dry eyes, urinary issues, dry mouth, irritability, stomach pain and more pronounced short term memory problems. I also use a compound cream that contains gabapentin, on my hand.
I wondered if there are any ‘healthy’ counter-actions I can do to minimize some of these side effects? The docs are woefully silent about how to counteract, other than change doses. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it helps to know the probable cause of hair loss, etc.!
Annie
Seattle, wa
People say Gabapentin isn’t addictive.
Well… I say it is.
I like it.
I started taking it for hip pain. 300mg 3 times a day. Guess what? I sleep like a baby and my anxiety is lessened. I have been taking it for about 8 months. Sometimes only at night, sometimes all day. I use it more as a mood stabilizer and sleep aid now. Buuuuuttttt…… I’ve slowly noticed my eyes are getting bad. Not old age bad…. But new/blurry bad. I’m also noticing I forget things. I forget things from what I did yesterday to trying to pull certain words out when I’m talking. I’m 47. I don’t drink, or smoke, or take any other drugs, and I eat pretty healthy.
I want to stop…. But I like it. I feel happier. Sigh. Damn you Gabapentin.
Sandy
It’s easy to love at first, until you realize the side effects.
I had dry mouth, too. Now I have a tooth that’s partly gray and transparent. (I blame gabapentin for that, but am not totally sure.)
When I tried to wean off gabapentin, I got withdrawal symptoms. It caused worse tingling the more I took. I also had the memory problems. Your experience makes me think my urinary problems were probably caused by gabapentin, too.
I feel much better without it, except for the dental problem. It seems to be able to make you feel like you need more and more, but in my case I am much better off without it. I think it was causing the tingling I was taking it for!
nosneve
United States
omg i agree totz with you
i am having same story with it!
Becca R.
Brooklyn Md
Wow! I’m so happy I found this site! I was (like most) to see if my issues lately were “normal” For being on the medicine. I have had major stomach issues lately, it’s at it’s worse when I wake up for the 1st 7 hours of my day I look 6months pregnant from gas.
I have been losing my hair, falling a lot and even though I have A.D.D. my attention span and concentration are so much worse then before. Mind you I’m ONLY 30!! My kids, husband and myself included have noticed I’ve been very irritable lately. I was on 300mg 3x a day. But since I got bumped to 400mg 2x a day and 800mg at night all these off the wall symptoms have popped up. Thank you all that have posted on here. I’m now going to have a talk with my doctor about weaning off and maybe trying lycira instead. I was put in this for neuropathy. There’s got to be something else that will work. Thx again.
Donna
St. Louis, MO.
I first posted 2-3 months ago. I am the woman trying to taper from 4800mg of this horrid drug/day. I had no problems until the neurologist I was seeing began adding to my daily dose. I had developed bilateral neuropathy of my feet and legs. Now I wonder if Neurontin (Gabapentin) didn’t cause the neuropathy.
I started using it for Resltless legs at night, and it really helped. However, I blindly followed my phsicians guidance, only to find I was placed on such a high dose that is never recommended. I tapered down to 2400mg/day for about 10 days, but was in all over body pain I had to increase the dose back up to 3600mg/day. I am still in a great deal of pain, and now, the neuropathy has spread to my hands.
Current Doc wants me to stay at the 3600 for awhile. Meanwhile I am tapering off Zolpidem ER, which is actually Ambien, but in Extended Release from. I am trying to get off as many anti-cholinergic drugs as I can. Gabapentin, and most psychotropic/CNS-Acting drugs are of the anti-cholinergic effect class. Dry mouth, dry eyes, dry everything! I think Gabapentin can be effective when used in much lower dose. My hair is not falling out, I guess that’s something. But constipation is very bad, and the pain is life-altering! Am wondering if any of you with stomach pain are really suffering from effects of constipation? Anyway, thanks for listening. Anyone that has had success tapering from very high dose Gabapentin, I welcome any tips you can share. My heart goes out to all of you suffering from this drug
diana m.
Chesapeake, Va. 23320
I have just started on this drug for gastroparesis and it has helped greatly. I take 300 mg in the am and 300 in the pm. Hope my hair doesn’t start falling out as I went through that when I first got this disease. I also take Domperidone which isn’t helping very much now. I have a friend with the same disease who has been taking Gabapentin for a year. She now has her life back. My friend and I had been both been on Reglan and it was horrible. We call that the drug from HELL. She had to retire from her job as it affected her so badly. I am 72 years old and if I can have a few years free of horrible pain, then that’s ok with me. Death is the beginning of a wonderful life so I have no fear.
Also, I know it sounds crazy, but I suggest mental word activity to help keep the mind sharp as meds can do strange things to the mind.
Emily
Ny
Hi, I have been on gabapentin for 1 year now 400mg every 4 hrs for neuropathy. I am now tapering off and have gotten down to 200mg 3 times a day and I have been having really bad stomach pain. Especially in the morning when I first wake up (the pain actually wakes me up in the morning) Was wondering if anyone else has experienced this while tapering? I am only cutting down 100mg per week. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
SJB
Ludlow Vt.
I am on 600mg 3x’s a day for spinal stenosis pain. After two months leg pain has subsided somewhat, approx 50%.. I am now noticing some fine motor clumsiness picking up small objects and now some tremors in hands, more noticeable holding paper or magazine. I am convinced it is from the gabapentin and am now begun self titrating down to 300 mg and then to 100 mg 3x’s a day untill i get off altogether. Surgery is probably only alternative for back so we’ll see how it goes. I’ll keepya posted.
Linda
Virginia
I have been on Gabapentin for 4 yrs. I have noticed my hair falling out..my eyebrows are almost gone.. I have severe muscle weakness and great fatigue. I was prescribed this medication for fibromyalgia. Now I can’t think.. I can’t remember names and lately I have had some concerns about driving. My Dr insists the side effects are worth the gains.. but I still have fibro pain! I have worked my way down to 2 300 gram pills in the morning and 2 at night..when I try to go any farther I have trembling and great anxiety.. plus my restless legs go crazy.. I am not able to sleep…. any help on getting off this medication is appreciated.
Donna
St. Louis
KLM – You are on mark!! Good for you for doing research on your own, and being proactive in your Mom’s care as well as your own. It is not easy to go up against the medical establishment. When my gut was telling me “no” I said OK, remaining passive. Kudos to you, my friend!
Donna
St. Louis, MO.
I am attempting to taper from a twice a day dose of gabapentin, 2400/dose. That’s right, 4800mg/day. I am in excruciating pain. I am literally house bound. I am also on several other CNS-acting drugs. I was able to taper from Duloxetine fairly quickly as I had developed SIADH. A disturbance of electrolytes, specifically Sodium, which can lower silently until one is in grave trouble. I am beside myself.
I managed to bring myself down to 1200mg 2x/day for a couple days, but I am in trouble. Can not afford Treatment Centers. Suddenly the physicians are AWOL! The one who placed me on it, and the one who upped the dose. I do notice I am much more anxious, and that does not bode well going forward. Anyway, beware allowing anyone prescribing high dose Gabapentin for off-label use. Do not fall into this trap of Poly Prescription Drug Dependency. I am a late middle-age woman, and my body just can not handle this stress
Leslie
Escondido
I agree- I tried this drug about a year ago it was so bad. Then the doctor put me on it again, I felt bad for the 2 days I was on it so I went all day without and took it at night. I felt I could not breathe and felt sick. Never again, for me anyways, I know it can work for some people, but not me.
Johna980
USA
Spot on with this writeup, I actually believe this website needs a great deal more attention. Ill probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the info! bdbfckkeafbc
EJW
I am reading these comments because I wanted to check and see if my side effect was common with gabapentin. I have found that it is.
After only, one dose, I have been having extreme abdominal/stomach pain. I have been on Lyrica for years. I asked for a generic because Lyrica is so expensive when you reach the donut-hole.
I just called the pharmacy and I will go back to Lyrica. I will have to cut back on something else. I can not live with this pain.
I wish you all the best of luck. And, I will keep you in my prayers.
sdenne
I’m post-stroke. I had to learn to walk, talk and swallow again. I had double vision for awhile. I’ve had peripheral neuropathy on the complete right side of my body after the stroke.
After 10 years of 3×300 gabapentin… hair balls around the house, anger management, loss of strength (for daytime activities), mild scalp psoriasis, some creaking in knee and neck (mild effect), minor swelling in legs (reduced by wearing pressure socks for long trips), some stiffness in hands; but all this might be because I’m 65 years old. lol My weight, around 195 lbs (stable). My height 5’9″ and shrinking (as I settle in to old age). BP: 130/70 (but I take lots of meds).
My major concern is loss of hearing and tinnitus. I’m thinking gabapentin is a cause for this condition; but I also have to consider other contributors to tinnitus… caffeine, aspirin, Losartan, Atenolol, Hydrocone, Clonidine, etc.
I suppose, after 10 years of gabapentin I should be on the quest for better solutions.
I’ll probably wean myself off of gagapentin, Losartan, coffee and aspirin. I have hypertension (which gabapentin contributes to) and have to monitor my bp.
Like “cappy”, just passing through. (No guarantee of replies). He probably forgot to check the “follow-up” box.
Thanks for the plethora of experiences.
Side effects:
WEIGHT GAIN, LOSS OF HAIR (hair balls around the house), TINNITUS, RASH (eczema, head psoriasis), sadness (depression), LOSS OF ENERGY (greatly increased muscle weakness)(soporific, daytime), joint stiffness or pain (dryness, popping, grinding noises in knees, shoulders, ankles and neck), swelling of legs, dizziness (terrible balance problems), dry mouth, disorientation or confusion (a blithering idiot today), loss of vision (in one eye, partial, blurred vision and jerky eye-movements), increase or cause of pain (gotten neuropathy from neurontin), Stroke symptoms (Interesting, opposite of myself… I had several real strokes.)
KLM
My mother went to the ER seeming like she had a life threatening stroke. The hospital left her on gabapentin. As I researched as I stayed with my mother, I notified the nurses that I thought it was the gabapentin. She had these “strokes” 3 nights in a row. The morning after I notified the nurses, a doctor gave an order to take her off the medicine. She did not have a “stroke” episode the following night after being taken off. So the doctor’s then said we can assume it was the gabapentin. I was written up in an incident report for trying to consult with nurses, and being mad at them after they told me I was no MD. Well, I was better than all 6 MD’s put together with my research and perhaps saving my mothers life. The Lord gave me this knowledge and this intelligence. Don’t have faith in Doctors. They may cause your death or the death of a loved one. Research medicines yourself, doctors do not follow through with research. Tell them to go to hell if they treat you like this. They will certainly end up there whn they answer to God. From this non MD, may God be with you and anyone on gabapentin, look for an alternative.
Carol
California
How long was your mother on it before she had those symptoms? I am taking 300mg for sleep and it seems to have helped my stomach issues and made me more relaxed. I am having hot flashes which I never had before. I am 78. Other than one other over the counter drug i don’t know what could be causing them.
Donna
St. Louis, MO.
I absolutely agree. I went to a well-known, well respected Neurologist with neuropathy like symptoms in my feet. No Diabetes, or history in family. I didn’t realize until later this Doctor, after striking out initially on all pathologies which might be causing this, kept increasing my Neurontin dose. To the point where I was prescribed 4800 mg of this drug/day. I had already been taking a modest dose for Restless Leg Syndrome.
After becoming pro-active on my own behalf, I learned this was way more than the highest recommended daily dose. I feel the Neuropathy like symptoms may have been the cause of the initial neuropathy. Now, the neuropathy-like symptoms have traveled up my body to include calves, thighs, a diagnosed Pelvic Floor Disorder, and most recently, my hands, and my lower face. I learned that I had Bilateral Tarsal-Tunnel Syndrome, (nerves in feet) with a Peroneal Nerve compression of the (R) foot, the pelvic floor is tight skin, and muscles likely impinging on nerves there. My hands which is likely caused by Ulnar Nerve Compression, and there are so many nerves in the face, but likely is my Trigeminal Nerve.
I am a R.N. retired, and should have known better than blindly follow a physician directive without diagnosis supporting increasing a powerful drug. I finally realized she was not interested in me as a patient, when she said: I can only diagnose you with Ataxia, which for crying out loud, a major side effect of this medication. Ataxia is an unsteady gait. I have been trying, with great difficulty to decrease this dose. The withdrawal mainly consists of increased nerve pain.
I am now on 3200mg/day in divided doses. This decrease started in August, and it is now November. I can only decrease in 400mg increments, so will take a very long time. Meanwhile, the nerve problems advance. Please do research your medications for yourself, and look up withdrawal syndromes while you’re at it so you know what you’re facing if must come off the drug. And there is precious little written as to guidance in coming off this drug. I do not have epilepsy, however, can not be certain that as dose decreases, I might not be subject to those, as a further side effect. Please do pay attention to symptoms while on this drug. 2 years later, I still have no definitive diagnosis. And Physicians will not commit to agreement with me as to the drug as cause.
jsworkouts
I went on Gabapentin recently for arthritis pain got up to 900 mg and started experiencing confusion, weight gain and numbness on my right foot. Got off ok but numbness still there it’s been about 3 weeks since I’ve been off totally. How long will it take for the numbness to go away?
Jonathan
I have been on Gabapentin for about a year now for restless leg syndrome. It has worked well, although I would not recommend the nightly dose if you have to get up to let you dogs out during the night (It makes you stumble around like a drunk person…LOL) Unfortunately last night I accidentally took 2 doses close together. (Being before bed, I mistook it for other night time meds.) Today I have been really lethargic, numbness in fingers, toes, and lips; mental fogginess, weak grip, puffiness in face, neck, and feet with occasional fleeting 30 second bouts of nausea… It has been interesting.
Oddly enough, absolutely no pain today which scares me because I have never been pain free in my whole life! To be quite honest the complete absence of pain has made me more uncomfortable than anything. For those with trouble sleeping, I have noticed my SOMA works quite well, might be an option for some of you to discuss with your doctor. :) Let me know any thoughts!
Tanya
I been on it 2 years with no side effects and now I have pancreas problems my aunt says this is why idk but I love my neurontin the doc will let me know this week.
gclover
I feel your frustration about being dx with the neuropathy after taking the meds. I was in a similar situation recently (well over the past 5 years.) I had thought that me getting a virus from my nephew had triggered my autoimmune responses. I had positive ANA with a specific pattern: all kinds of joint pain and debilitating fatigue. All the whole completely forgetting that less than a treat before my symptoms began I had an IUD inserted for my birth control. As the years went on the pain and fatigue become worse and worse and I just wanted to know why! Why did this happen to me, what caused this?! Then I began thinking it was the iud that could have caused the autoimmune response. I recently had the IUD removed and guess what? The pain is still there. Even after 4 positive blood tests confirming my autoimmune disease my new rheumy wanted to run another. Come to find out I was negative. She dx me with fibro, which I’m still struggling to accept, and started me on new meds. She explained that it’s only natural for our brains to try to find a cause of things, a coping mechanism we try to use to process info that’s hard for use. I’m not saying that it is valid in you case as I’m not a doctor, but sometimes things were going wrong the whole time and just began getting worse naturally. Went did you have the pain in your foot in the first place? Did the doctors ever determine that before they have you meds? Just my advice, we can’t truly know anything for sure, but if it helps you to think things came about because of a certain event then stick with it, but just try to move forward, past the causes otherwise you’ll keeping looking back to regret and it will make things worse physically and mentally. Anyway I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope that your pain subsides or at least becomes bearable.
Sheila
I have been on 1500mg of Gabapentin for about 20 years for neuro pain issues. I have never had a side effect. Helps the pain, never lost hair, got rashes etc, NADA! It definitely seems from all the posts, that it really goes by each individual. It really works for me!
joynor
I have just read your comments on Gabapentin. Am going to try your regimen and see if it works for me. I have been on Gabapentin for about a year and gained about 5 pounds and even after adjusting diet considerably, find that I cannot lose the weight. Also tired and depressed. Thanks for your comments. I’m hoping this will work.
John
Hello
I to have non-diabetic peripheral nuropathy. I am on 2400 mg/day and it is helping – I hate to think on how my feet would be without it. I am going to the doc and asking what the cause could be of this where I am not diabetic. It is very strange it started shortly after I had major knee surgery but it started int he opposite foot. Now it is in both feet. Have you had the ENG test done to confirm the neuropathy?
Veteran
As a 100% disabled Veteran, I have experienced a LOT of apathy in the VA towards my pain, because I am, shall we say, physically (visably) intact. I do NOT mean that to sound disrespectful towards other Vets, I mention it that way because my pain and issues are all internal.
I have six damaged vertebrae, 3 thoracic and 3 cervical, each set of 3 are in a row so they cannot fuse them. Additionally I have migraine headaches and fibromyalgia and between the two issues, I have days where I cannot get out of bed due to pain.
I FINALLY got a MD who understood that I was absolutely sincere about the pain and she got me started on Gabapentin (I had been on just norco and cyclcobenzaprine) Between the three, my pain is somewhat under control. I started on 1800 mg per day and now am taking 3200 mg daily and have for…over a year and a half.
I was unsure the meds were going to do much in the beginning, because I have a short “honeymoon” span with meds that usually leaves me back where I started in an unfortunately short time span. As a result of this issue, it seems Dr’s thought I was milking them for pain meds, when in fact my body just cycles thru the meds faster than some people and their effectiveness wears off faster.
However, after what feels like a lifetime, I am pleased to say that I am getting fairly good pain control by using a cocktail of norco, cyclobenzaprine and the massive daily intake of Gaba. The pain has not gone away, it’s always hiding jusssst around the corner, but if I keep my med intake steady and on time, I suffer much less than I was. She has moderated my pain from losing 3-5 days at a crack to mind numbingly painful neck pain (10 out of 10) to being able to go several months without a “spell.”
I was warned by her that she wouldn’t be able to “make the pain go away” or “make it go away permanently” but she has given me the ability to wake up and enjoy life again. I realize that will spend much of the rest of my life in a medicated state but its better than spending days at a time crying in pain and praying for relief. The pain no longer ruins every minute of every day, and sadly, there are no other alternatives currently for me other than massive doses of meds but THANK THE GOOD LORD for them at this time!! And bless that Dr for listening to me without presumption of guilt and being presentenced as a drug seeking failure!
I share this with all of you so that those of you that live in pain don’t give up and so you please keep trying and working with your Dr to find solutions. It is miserable and it is tough, I understand…but please…keep trying to find a solution that works for YOU!
mc
I’m on 3600 mg a day totally every 4 hrs in which 2 of them at bedtime then 6/20 mg of Bacolfen a day, 6 7.5/325 mg norco a day because I lost my hand to hunting accident in Nov 2012 still having pain 24/7 still. Yes still. I feel tired, nausea in which I do take another med for that when ever needed not to often did take zolpedim 12.5 er but have not refill script since Feb 2014.
I still have 6 pills left felt tired all day long did get 8hrs sleep but not 5 hrs but sleeping 2hrs after taking meds in morning and during day unless doing something outside to stay busy. But every 4rs I know its meds time because pain is unbearable. Feels like I have whole hand inside wrist fingers and thumb wrap around wrist. Had nerve surgery cut 2 in bottom of forearm and 1 on top of forearm and relocated into 3 new little muscles. And of course hasn’t worked yet so if any information would help on meditation would help.
monty
Be very careful coming off this drug.
pam h
Sorry that was my left arm, see I forget and really get confused I don’t have any insurance this is why I had to start taking the medication because I have no way of taking care of my arm. I hope I’m doing the right thing.
pam h
I also take gabapentin 300 milligrams at night this was for my torn right rotor cuff and also to help me sleep at night because of the pain in my arm but I noticed that I have memory loss and I’ve only been taking it for a couple of months my husband also noticed it and said what is wrong with you I feel really funny now I thought at first the benefits outweigh everything but I’m going to stop by taking one and skipping one for one week the next week take one and skip two for the next weekend so on until I’m off because this is really starting to worry me.
karen
How many people are experiencing weight gain. I am also wondering if anyone feels like they are floating. Took my first 300mg dose and felt like I was on acid. Crazy, not going to take this anymore.
mel
Hey Cam, I was wondering how long you were on gabapentin and if your hair has fully grown back? I was on gabapentin 300 for about a year and a half and it caused my hair to thin by a third and one of my eye lids developed a third lid. I’d love to hear your update. Thank you! -mel
JE
Has anyone had their b6 levels checked? I just had mine checked and I have b6 toxicity which if you look up causes nerve damage, neuropathy, pain, anxiety etc I wonder how long I’ve actually had it since no one has ever checked it until I asked for a vitamin panel… now no one can tell me how to fix the level beings its a water soluble vitamin that should be excreted and I don’t take supplements… go from one thing to the next with these doctors… and I also am down to 600 mg a day with the neurontin with side effects but not bad enough to make me go back up in the dose.
djcm
I have been on Neurontin (gabapentin) for over ten (10) years, and have had many bouts of weight gain and extreme hair loss. Two months ago I started having a hair thinning, hair loss problem so bad that I called and asked my doctor to order blood test for me. She ordered a CBC series, and most of the test came back normal.
In 1992, I had a cervical spine injury at work, and after surgery I went back to heavy riveting that really messed me up and left me with extreme neuropathy. I had migraine headaches with auras also, so my life plummeted. I was put on all different types of meds, and hardly anything helped. Then a neurologist put me on Neurontin, some prednisone, and Topirimate, and I was again able to live a somewhat normal life. The neurologist immediately stopped the prednisone and tried that Cox-inhibitor that was removed from the market.
I have weaned myself down from 3600mg of Neurontin to about 1200mg or sometimes less. I stopped the Topomax last month because I thought it was the cause of my hair loss. I still take a oxycodone every now and then when I just can’t bear the pain. I truly want to live, but this overall pain is unbearable. I try every supplement that Dr. Oz, suggests to see if it will help, and read.
Gloria P.
I took this drug when I had shingles. I had a fight on the phone with my son because I had not seen him in 2 years and he and his wife just drove by my town on the way to a concert. I asked for an hour and said “why can’t I say I love you and miss you”? His reply was that he hated me and never loved me. Now he says he never said anything like that. Did I hear this in my mind? He is still acting like a jerk.
marcdz
I’ve had gabapentin prescribed to treat chronic back pain since about 1990. The pain was caused by immune system damage to 5 spots along my spinal cord, initially due to an episode of my MS that’s been in complete remission for over 12 years. Since gabapentin was prescribed, I’ve since had surgery to “install” an intrathecal pain pump that works superbly. I regret that it was never determined if the Neurontin 1200mg 2x/day was actually helping me (to address the back pain). In January, I started to taper off gabapentin, 100 mg at a time. I’d gotten down to 800mg in morning and 900mg at bedtime, and now think I may be experiencing a subtle, almost difficult to make sense of increase in pain, so last night I returned to 1200mg 2x/day to see if the return makes a difference.
I am uncertain how long to give to see if any difference is noticeable, and am also uncertain if the subtle pain increase is in fact caused by tricky withdrawal symptoms from gabapentin, a drug I’ve been taking for a very very long time.
I’d be interested in any comments people may have about what makes sense for me to do. The doctor I rely upon to manage and refill my intrathecal pain pump does not have much experience with tapering off gabapentin and she had initially suggested I taper by cutting down by 25% which I quickly discovered was far far too dramatic a reduction.
Thanks much.
JE
I have been using gabapentin for 3 years for chiari malformation, post herpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. I started with 300 mg daily for one week and progressed to now taking 900 mg at bedtime. The first week I took this drug I thought it was a miracle drug. All my pain was gone. I was feeling my old self again.
Now three years later I am 25lbs heavier, have absolutely no energy, depression, anxiety, night fears, severe confusion and severe memory loss as well as a drunk feeling in the morning, blurred vision and dizziness to the point that I fall constantly.
Last week I received a concussion when falling and about three weeks ago a broken toe from a fall. I now take baths instead of showers because I’m afraid of falling in the shower. I have asked and pleaded with my neurologist to take me off the meds I cant function like this. I am a full time student and I work and have begun to find it impossible to function daily. I have been put on melatonin recently for insomnia but stopped taking that due to migraines. Yesterday I was given xanax for anxiety and excessive yawning. I now have a mass on my pituitary gland and need an MRI and yet they still wont do blood work to check levels of depleting hormones, vitamins and minerals that this drug causes without anyone telling you to supplement.
This drug although it helped with pain has caused me so many other problems and I’m getting no help from my doctor to get off of it. Instead they just keep treating the side effects with other drugs. Soon I’ll just be a waste case junkie!
Pretty sure I’m just going to slowly taper off this medication on my own… I’d rather be in pain then feel like this everyday.
kodell
I have diabetic neuropathy, with sevre pain and temperature sensitivity, gabapentin has done wonders for this, however, if used continuously, severe knee pain and swelling occur. I alternate between crippling neuropathy and equally painful knees.
Hopefully I will find balance as no other med works for me like this one, I also have severe neck pain, no positive or negative association with the drug pertaining to the neck pain.
nicric
Been taking 1 every 4 hrs and 2/600 mg at bedtime Gabapentin plus 1 every 4 hrs and 2 at bedtime of Baclofen 20mg and 1 every 4 hrs and 1 at bedtime of Hydroco/Apap 7/5-325mg and 12.5 aminben sleeping pill so I can sleep. Since I lost my hand due from hunting accident Nov 17, 2012 plus ultra sound with needles with medicine didn’t work then Catheter inserted in chest to arm with IV pump 5.0 for 4 days then next 4 days 6.0 of medicine every 1/2hr press button for med arm was total 1 day then only bottom half 1/2 was numb last of 4th day arm became totally unnumb try to relocate catheter shot medi again didn’t go numb so the pull it and in Nov 20th 2013 they relocated 2 nerves to new muscles in lower arm with 7 inch cut and nerve top of forearm with 3 inch cut use muscle side of forearm that is use for nothing cut into 3 muscles and attached nerve ending oh remove 3 neuaromas in wrist in which nerves was transmitting say hand still there case is still out on last surgery having mg done in April to see if its working at U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan. Still feels like I have a complete hand in wrist when my regular Doctor told me make fist he and the wife can feel muscles tighten up and when I released it can feel retract back. So far quit taking sleeping pill for 2 weeks but not sleeping right probably back up this go on 24/7. Tired of feeling tired but has not stop me from working on cars or anything else have hook but can’t get hand until pain gone. My insurance company has paid a fortune so far retired from GM truck assm of Flint, Mi 2006. So any answers would be appreciated.
CPR
Following a Cipro-induced tendon rupture in my shoulder, I developed a brachial plexopathy (compression of the brachial plexus that was scarred down and painful. Though my amazing physical therapist managed to loosening the fibrous tissue that formed over my nerves, I battled with severe vertigo and lightheadedness as well as numbness, tingling, and pain in my left shoulder, forearm, and hand (median nerve distribution – thumb, 2nd, and 3rd digit). To help me sleep while my nerves healed, my doctor prescribed me with high-dose gabapentin (1600 mg 1x daily before bed).
I honestly was extremely skeptical of taking any drugs ever again after my horrible side effects with Cipro. But thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised and consider this a wonder drug. My insomnia due to the paresthesias in my hand had gotten so bad I was having daytime hallucinations and falling asleep while driving. My first day on gabapentin (started at 400mg), I slept 10 hours and didn’t wake up a single time during the night for the first time in 6 months. I worked my way up to 1200 mg but did not reach the max dose i was supposed to due to excessive daytime grogginess. Personally, I will take the tired feeling over the paresthesias any day.
I am now tapering off the drug as I have found a vitamin regimen that works to control the weird feelings in my hand and pain in my supraclavicular/neck region. I take 5000 IU Vitamin D during the winter and 1000 IU during the summer. I take 200 mg ALA prior to bed (it makes me very dizzy as I have borderline hypotension of 100/50) with my remaining dose of gabapentin (I have weaned down to 200 mg immediately prior to bed). Finally, I hope to get a pay-raise in order to afford a new supplement on the market known as MitoQ. This is a modified version of CoQ10 that demonstrated clinical efficacy for spasticity and pain in multiple sclerosis patients. If you think your neuropathy is bad, theirs is worse (I’m a medical student; those people have serious pain issues). Additionally, I eat at least 1 pound of leafy greens everyday (kale is my personal favorite) and perform moderate-strenuous exercise for at least 45 minutes 6 days a week.
In summary, gabapentin is a great drug for neuropathy that is not progressive. My advice to anyone on this forum with type II diabetes or hypertension-mediated neuropathy is this: eat right, exercise, and lose weight. Diabetic neuropathy does not get better. Your peripheral nerves die off leaving you with burning, numbness, tingling that will not heal in a diabetic body state. Ask yourself every time you’re eating junk food whether the pain in your feet, hands, ankles – wherever – is worth enjoying the flavor of foods you know are garbage for you.
Cathie P.
I was diagnosed with mild sensory neuropathy 2010. I am 68, healthy otherwise. My Neurologist at the time put me on 100 mg’s Gabapenten 3 times a day. Then a few months later, 300 mg’s 3 x a day. Then with break through burning pain and tingling in both feet, it went up to 600 mg. 3 x a day. That relieved the pain for 1 and 1/2 years.
But, now I have break through pain again, and after moving to TX, my new Neurologist just added another 600 mg’s, so I’m on 600 mg’s of gabapenten four times a day = 2,400 mg’s. I do ok during the day if I’m not on my feet a lot. But, if I take a 30 minute walk, or am doing housework all day, my feet start to hurt (not terribly) but at bedtime, the pain gets worse; some burning, and tingling, sometimes from the bottom of my feet to the ankles.
So, now I would hate to call my doctor and complain, as I’m sure he’d tell me to add another 600 mg. I’ve been having some problems with my memory, mostly miss-spelling words when I type, and have a little problem finding the right word while speaking, occasionally.
I am taking Super B-complex, plus 1000 mg. of B-12. My husband and I are on the Grain Brain low carb, high fat (good fats like butter, olive oil, avocado, coconut oil and eggs), no sugar diet. I’ve lost 14#’s in 6 weeks, feel great, except for the neuropathy.
I’m also taking CoQ10 and alpha lapoic acid, and Turmeric capsule, which contains curcumin, an anti-inflammatory,and anti-oxidant. I’m hoping and praying that my feet will get better, not worse. I challenge you all to read “Grain Brain”, which tells about GMO wheat, and how it’s making people sick (ADHD, epilepsy, obesity, diabetics, Alzheimer’s, Celiac, and other ailments.
jlc
I have been taking gabapentin for trigeminal neuralgia for about a year. I too have experienced hair loss. Did your hair grow back when you discontinued the medication?
Sarah
United States
I finally got off Gabapentin after 15 years and a huge amount of hair loss, and my hair still has not grown back after 1 year. No woman in my family has had large hair loss, and that included my lived-to-be-99 year old grandmother and lived-to-be-96 year old great grandmother. The hair loss started immediately after starting the Gabapentin.
I tried Biotin for my hair, but it gave me crazy headaches. I tried Biosil, but it also gave me headaches. I’m trying MSM next, and so far no headaches. Crossing my fingers.
It’s been about a year since I stopped taking Gabapentin. I took it for anxiety, but found out that the supplement L-theanine actually works better than the gabapentin ever did. Too bad I didn’t figure that out before I lost so much of my hair. I tried for years to get off the Gabapentin until I finally found L-theanine. BTW, if you do try L-theanine I had to take 1600-2000 mg for it to work. People will often recommend these piddly little 100-200 mg doses that are not useful. I took the higher dose for a couple of weeks then tapered off to 800 mg, which is my maintenance dose and works well. I have no side effects from L-theanine, which is an amino acid supplement you can buy at almost any vitamin store.
Kristen
FDO-so glad you got off that medication as soon as you did. I guess I was one of the lucky ones with no symptoms but did notice more hair in my hands than usual when washing my hair even tho it doesn’t look thinner…good thing I was not on it a long time. I just can’t imagine what type of WONDER pill these drs think this is to give it out for so many different problems.
A couple of my friends are still on it for nerve problems of some kind but I think they are fools to not look into this medication more closely…I applaud everyone that I see out here that questions this medication…seems to me to be like that “elixir” they used to sell at the county fairs to treat all ailments!!!!
FDO
These comments are all so helpful and informative. I was mis-diagnosed as having shingles by an urgent care clinic doctor, and put on acyclovir (anti-viral) and gabapentin (800mg/day) for nerve pain. Neither one helped, as what I really had was a fungal infection. It took a very painful additional week to get properly diagnosed and successfully treated with an anti-fungal cream. The day before I stopped taking the gabapentin, I noticed that I was getting an itchy rash in random spots on my body. This progressed to an excruciating all-over itchiness, including inside my ears.
There was very little visible evidence, just light pink bumps that would show up when I scratched. My dermatologist seemed dismissive because it was not super visible, but nonetheless prescribed a steroid solution as a treatment. I am convinced that the itchiness was caused by the gabapentin. It’s been a week since I stopped taking it, and the itchiness has decreased but is not gone. It disturbs me to think of how this drug messed with my nervous system.
monty
I was on it for 4 weeks… It gave me eye pain also and headpain. I quit cold turkey. this is a bad drug.
Kristen
I am finally off my gabapentin!!! Have something else more or less for anxiety which I don’t have but it helps me sleep. Have not smelled smoke since mid December so knock on wood whatever that was is gone… if not I will have the ambulatory EEG to see if there is any seizure activity there or not. I honestly think this gabapentin is used way too much for just about any type of problem after reading all these notes and talking to several friends who are on it for even other things… that’s kind of scary and I am very glad to be off it. My mind is clear now and I finally after a year feel like my old self. Having lost a whole year being on Keppra, zonasimide and gabapentin I realize that maybe drs are just keeping us medicated and coming back each month… I don’t know….
ctv
My Dr. put me on Gaba for major depression. I have been taking 300 mg at night for the past 3 yrs. Luckily, I have not exp. hair loss or headaches as mentioned above. It has greatly helped me for my major depression tremendously!!!! I’m not sure why it works for me, but it does. Recently, because of a major depressive episode, I upped my dosage to 600 mg at night.
While out shopping one day, I took a blood pressure test. It was 157/101. I was shocked!! I periodically take my BPT and it was never this high (always in the norm). Going to lower my dosage back down to 300 mg. and retake my BPT. BTW – it does help me sleep better too. Although there have been times that I have not taken my Gaba every day, I have found no after side-effects. So sorry to hear a lot have.
MLS
Have been on 1200 mg for 1 and 1/2 years-suddenly have shakes-my arms are literally bouncing off the bed then about 12 hours later I just have tremors. My Doctor is having me cut back to 900 daily to see if this is the problem. Everything else I have been on more than 20 years-I hope this works.
Jose
Hi,
First let me congratulate you, people like you motivate me to go on and try harder. I also take gabapentin (300mg) at night before bed time. Right now I have no side affects besides feeling like I have IBS which which I have contacted my GI just in case. This medication makes me sleep like 6 hours (7 on a good day)and I wake up normal. For some reason I feel a little nerve pain 1-2 hours after taking but not bad so is not taking away my sleep time. After that the pain is gone for the night.
I also take a B complex and Vitamin D (400mg). Now, I have read in numerous occasions of people just like you using B Complex and Alpha Lipoic Acid and they have eliminated completely the pain caused by Nerve damage. What is the amount you are taking on each of them? I understand you need 300mg twice daily of Alpha Lipoic Acid. I take B complex which has 100mg of B12.
Did you quit at once and replaced with this or did you slowly lowered the dose? I just started 3 weeks ago and my dose is only 300 so I see no problem with that, just asking.
My Neurologist is not exactly friendly so asking him is wasting my time. All they recommended was B Complex and that was the head nurse, he didn’t even speak to me.
Any help is appreciated. ;-)
Jose
Jodi
Gabipentin for sure has caused my hair loss. I’ve been on it for 3 years, 2700mgs for idiopathic femoral cutaneous neuropathy. It doesn’t effect everyone the same way. I heard only a small percentage of people experience hair loss while on Gabipentin. It’s the only thing I can find that actually takes the horrible pain away. Unfortunately, now I have to wear a wig. The price I pay. nope, life ain’t fair.
Jodi
Hair loss doesn’t happen for everyone. I heard 1% but don’t know where that figure came from. It’s definitely happening to me, which is worrisome, as you said. It’s actually more like depressing. I feel pathetic and ugly. The Gabipentin allows me to live with minimal pain, so I’m glad for that. But I never thought I’d go bald. I’m going to try the tart cherry, alpha lipoic acid, Vit. D and B that Cappy talked about and see if that works for me. What miracle if it does. best of luck to you.
Jodi
have you heard from Cappy yet?
Jodi
KAC, Ginny and Cappy, I’m also curious if anyone has heard from Cappy about the strengths of the Vitamins he’s taking? And also I’m wondering if this combination is working for anyone else. I am desperate to get off Gabipentin. It does get rid of most of my neuropathy pain, but is affecting my life in negative ways, most disturbingly in the loss of my once gorgeous long curly hair.
Jodi
Cappy, I am curious as to the strengths of the vitamins you listed. I have been on 2700mgs of Gabipentin for 3 years and am so ready to get off them. I’ll try anything. It’s amazing that after only 1 month of Vitamin treatment you were pain free. Thrilling. Is it still working for you?
Jodi
I have been diagnosed with idiopathic femoral cutaneous neuropathy and have been on Gabapentin for 3 years. It’s true, there are side effects to all meds we take, and people respond differently. I just re read a post I wrote 2 years ago, complaining that my hair was falling out. Well, now I am getting ready to go wig shopping, it’s so thin and lifeless. I feel sick about it. As far as other ways to deal with nerve pain… I’ve tried acupuncture, chiropractic, even Reiki… nothing so far has made a dent in the pain I’m in, that is, except the drugs. So, I’ll be bald, with stiff joints, memory loss, and stomach issues, but at least I’ll be able to walk. I’m still trying acupuncture and chiro as I don’t know where else to turn. There are nerve centers that offer other options but they are invasive treatments and I’m leery to go there. Good luck to you in your search for a pain free life.
SB
Note: L-theanine is not a precursor to GABA, it’s glutamate that is a precursor. Anyway, the L-theanine is supposed to increase your GABA levels and it seems to really improve my sleep.
To John: Gabapentin has definitely given me headaches, made me sleepy during the day, and given me joint pain. 100mg is a pretty small dose for most people — it’s 1 capsule of the smallest gabapentin capsule there is. But, some people are more sensitive to meds than others.
Kristen
I am amazed at all the people who have been put on this gabapentin for so many reasons….and that they are not working!!!!!! I am thinking that everyone needs to get into their drs office and get a better explanation as to what this medicine does or should do. I plan to have my dr wean me off this med even tho I am having no symptoms while on it.
John…..100 mg is not a lot compared to the dosage others are on, I am on 600 mg and I see no adverse symptoms except it doesn’t put me to sleep quickly as I think a sleeping pill should do. I do plan to get off this med as this “wonder” pill just cannot be for all the symptoms people have here and help every one of them.
John
My Va Dr. put me on Gabapentin 100MG for pain in the neck and head ache, I now have more pain in the neck and worse head aches, Am now having middle back pain, joints hurt in legs and and sleepy and tired all the time, along with this feeling as I need to throw up all the time, Is this normal?
Kristen
I, too, was told when I went on gabapentin for sleep that it was also good for the seizures I am supposedly having AND also my leg movements they said I had also. Can’t really comment on the leg movements as I don’t think I have them… another story with the sleep study I had for another time. I am to see this dr next week and will report back online after seeing him after telling him I do not fall asleep for several hours after taking this med…. they make it sound like a miracle drug for a lot of things but I’m finding from others that it’s not helping any of the symptoms that well.
I am taking 600 mg of this med. I do fall asleep but like you, Mary L, it takes forever it seems to work. Haven’t noticed the eye movements tho.
Mary L.
I am on 200mg of Gabapentin for restless leg syndrom after trying many other drugs without relief. Gabapentin does help to keep the symptoms at bay but I have insomnia now. I take the medicine at 09:00 p.m. But don’t fall asleep until about 05:00 a.m. Also my eyes are moving around after I shut them to try to sleep. Is this common?
Kristen
To SB…..thank you. I will check out this L-theanine….I feel like I lost a whole year last year trying to do what the drs said to do, being on those meds I’ve mentioned. I see my sleep dr next week so we shall see what he says about this gabapentin and if I can go off it….I am due to have an ambulatory EEG the end of the month but will NOT if I don’t smell smoke. Haven’t smelled it since mid December so should be expecting it soon….
I am now taking my GABA calm again before bed after taking the gabapentin, possibly thinking about going back to my over the counter sleep meds and not continuing on with these drs. I do want the EEG to see if I am actually having seizures or not so am hoping that the smoke smell does come back soon only for that reason.
SB
I recently have been reducing my gabapentin dosage and have found that taking L-theanine (an amino acid) about an hour before bedtime has really helped with the insomnia problem. I’ve been opening the gabapentin capsule and removing more and more of the powder to reduce my dosage. At the same time, I’ve been increasing the L-theanine. Started at 1, then 2, now 3 theanine capsules as I’ve decreased the gabapentin down to almost zero — that’s 100 mg L-theanine per capsule.
No side effects from the theanine, except I seem to have more energy during the day and it helps me get to sleep at night. L-theanine is a precursor to GABA in the body, so maybe it makes sense that taking it helps.
Kristen
I am now off my zonisamide after complaining to doctor about being very confused and really having to concentrate on everything throughout the day. No smoke smell so far….I am still on gabapentin for sleep but don’t feel like it is helping me sleep all that well. The dr said it would also help with the so called seizures….I will see the sleep dr soon to hopefully go off the gabapentin and go from there….I am going to have an ambulatory EEG for 72 hours soon that should show IF there ARE seizures or not as I don’t to this day believe there are!!!! Am wondering why this wasn’t done a year ago instead of putting me on Keppra, zonisamide and gabapentin!!!!! I feel like I have wasted a year of my life trusting these doctors who are now admitting they don’t know if I’m having seizures or not!!!!! How sad is that??????
Why can’t drs just give something for sleep that works for sleep and not all kinds of other things????
tis_me_samantha
I am concerned about memory issues and mild depression tendencies that seem to have slowly developed. I have been on gabapentin or neurontin at 300mg at night for about 5 years for migraine prevention. I’m 51. It has certainly helped me with my migraines which can be severe. As a wonderful side effect it helped with my decades long struggle with insomnia. I tend to be very sensitive to meds even at low doses so I never increased from the initial prescribed dose to the higher dose the doctor really wanted me on. I drink a few cups of coffee every morning to get going but I don’t mind that. The only symptoms that worry me are memory problems, my fading “cup half full” outlook and every so often I smell smoke for a few weeks.
I am a professional and I’m working on my masters degree so I have lots to remember but really struggle at times to remember conversations or details about events I’ve recently attended and even some things I’ve done going back just a few years ago. I wonder if this is due to the medication or something else is wrong with me. I do little “tricks” to try to cover myself for my memory lapses but I can’t hide it from my family. It’s become a sort of family joke but it’s really worrisome.
I’m thinking of dumping a little medication out of the capsules every night to see if my memory improves but still help me sleep. I wonder if 100mg might do the trick.
Has anyone here been on a dose of less that 300mg a day and still gotten a positive therapeutic effect? Does anyone have any ideas about how to compensate for the gabapentin impact to memory other than stopping the med?
Kristen
Dana…yes…it does seem strange to me especially when neuros can’t tell me that 100 percent that I AM having seizures…that is what I question. I have been to my MD, DDS, ENT, had all the tests run, thought myself it was probably sinus somehow since I have a tooth root left in my gums from a tooth broken off at gumline but no….sinus’s are fine…this med seems to be helping.
Not sure what else to do to get rid of smell but would love to know IF I am having these seizures or not and IF I am how can they possibly be lasting a week at a time 24/7 without me knowing except for the fact that I’m smelling smoke……this is something I need to really get some answers to…..IF the drs have them and you know how drs are at answering questions….
Scottsgirl
Kristen,
Why are you taking such a powerful drug for seizures when you have never had one ??!!
Doesn’t that seem strange to you ????
Check out this link and read how a lot of folks have the same thing as you and don’t take anything.
You still smell smoke !?
It could be something else like a sinus issue or allergy.
Just saying.
Dana
http://ehealthforum.com/health/smelling-smoke-treatment-t134112.html
Dana
Dave,
Sounds like you have a pinched nerve in your shoulder that makes the pain radiate down the arm. I can only suggest you try all other avenues before getting hooked on painkillers. And you will get hooked. I would try a chiropractor first before I would ever get addicted to those pills. All the pills will do is mask the symptoms, not fix the problem.
Good luck.
Kristen
It’s very interesting to me to read these posts… here I sit with both problems, both sleep and seizures… at least that’s what the doctors say I have because I smell smoke at times even tho I have no physical symptoms of seizures… this med is good for both sleep and seizures both my sleep dr and my Neuros say…. BUT I don’t seem to find it working for sleep…. so I’m not sure what to do… hopefully staying on the meds I’m on now will curtail the smoke smell and I will eventually find something that will work for my sleep problem.
dave p
Hi I was prescribed gabapentin this past Monday 12/9/13 and Wednesday 12/11/13 I started to experience severe pain and now I am hurting more than when I saw my orthopedic. I take 100mg 3x a day and I get what feels like fire in my left arm. He thinks I have parsonage turner syndrome and almost every article I read online says that the pain should be dealt with the use of pain killers but he has been reluctant to Give me vicoden or perocet. I get what feels like someone stabbing me in the arm with a big needle. I have stiffness in my neck and back along with the shoulder can someone tell me if this is normal or should o go to the emergency room cuz they will give me pain pills.
Dana
I decided not to take the Gabapentin for mild insomnia. Seems like overkill to me. These docs are nuts. They are all in bed with the pharmaceutical companies. I refuse to play ball.
Kristen
To danapeterson930–I think you need to check more thoroughly with your Dr . Personally I don’t think this gabapentin is the right thing for me either for my sleep situation but it has made a big difference so far in my not smelling smoke and it is for both insomnia and for seizures….I need proof now from my Drs that I am actually having seizures as I have no symptoms except smelling a smoke smell but that is another subject. What all have you tried for sleep as I have tried some other prescription meds that were bad, bad bad after a while and we can go into that if you want.
danapeterson930
My doc rx’d me Gabapentin for mild insomnia. 300 Mgs a night. I have no pains. I was going to start taking 100 Mgs tonight. Now I’m going to flush them down the toilet after reading all these posts.
Kristen
I am new to gabapentin for sleep. Have been weaned onto it from 300 mg to 600 mg for about 4-6 weeks now. Have had sleep problems for about 35 plus years and just really want something to put me OUT at night!!! This is not doing it!!!! I also smell smoke at times so the doctors have decided I am having seizures of the kind that have no side effects….as I smell smoke for a week or more at a time sometimes…the meds I’m on for that seem to help…if I am really having seizures…but do seizures last a week at a time without someone knowing they are having them????
So many unanswered questions!!!! Back to the sleep problem…..I have been on the ambien, lunesta etc etc etc…been there done that…about ready at my age to go back to it as I don’t have to get up early and get out on the roads and drive anymore. This gabapentin is not making me sleepy at night at all….I am still awake on and off most nights…life is not good….
ESK
I was only on gabapentin for a few weeks. It was prescribed for tendonitis/carpal tunnel syndrome. I did experience the swelling in my hands and feet. I also had severe attacks similar to an asthma attack, but had thought they were due to the dust in my work environment, but increasingly thinking it was the drug now. What really scares me is the eye pain. I was awakened one night by a pain that was simply terrifying. It felt like someone was pulling the nerve (at the top and bottom centers) of my eye out! I had another a week later during the day, and the same feeling in my upper arm and side. Even though I’m off of gabapentin now due to this, it continues to happen. It as gradually lessened in intensity, but is now almost constant instead of sporadic, and is now spreading into the part of my head where your “third eye” is. I haven’t seen this exact feeling reported, hopefully my post helps someone else.
cambric
Gosh I am glad I kept looking through these posts to find yrs which helps me with gab withdrawal. I have herniated neck disc c6/c7 so was on 300mls x4 daily. Great for pain relief and only side effect was lost appetite. 6wks later was told to come off them and see if pain still there. If so then op needed. So I called my gp who said come off gradually ..4per day to 3per day down to 1 then none. What she didn’t say was over how many days so I came straight down each day. Well on the 2 per day I had every kind of side effect u can imagine….clearly it should be tapered for a few days then down one not like I did! .so u have my applause that u did it cold turkey…am gonnie stay on the 2 for a few more days then drop to 1 for another so hope to be clean in a wk. My poor family thot I was dying with the come down over this w end…so just a warning to others as Roland says u have to be a strong person to come off completely.
Becky
Are you positive the Gabopentin caused your hair loss? I’ve been on 1800-2400 mcg/ day since June for a pinched nerve in my neck. Surgery soon. Have lost almost half of my hair but I was attributing to the multi epidurals I had in the last four months. Four epidurals in four mths. I’m so upset as Gabopentin has given me the most relief. Thank u!
Walt P
I have been on Gabapentin 300mg for approximately 30 days as prescribed by my psychiatrist, 1 per day at bedtime, hopefully addressing some neurological symptoms I have experienced for many months, as well as diagnosed major depressive disorder.
Due to new concerning symptoms she had felt were a result of the medication, she has discontinued the same. How long dos it take to see the effects/symptoms go away. I have been off the medication for 4 days now. Just trying to get a benchmark as to how long I might feel a bit more rough…dizzy, blurred vision, unstable movements, feeling over medicated, etc
PJM
I have been on Horizant (a form of Gapaentin) for Restless Legs since Jan 2012. I have been experiencing extremely sensitive teeth since May 2012 after a routine teeth cleaning. I am 51 yr old post menopausal(still night sweats) female with RLS for 9 years. But I have have never had sensitive teeth but within a week of the last cleaning my teeth became extremely sensitive to cold. I’ve been to two dentists and have had lower teeth guard for clinching, been using sensodyne, Rx toothpaste, had teeth trays made for fluoride home gel treatments, had in office flouride treatment by Dentist and gluma varnish and NOTHING HAS HELPED!
I think it must be a build up of Horizant (600mg) for RLS last 2 years. I have great teeth only one cavity filling and dentists are baffled. This is first I’ve heard about possible dental problems with gabapentin. Went off it last night, maybe I’ll get some relief. Can only drink room temperature water through straw for over a year now. I also take calcium/magnesium supplements for RLS and osteoporosis. Something is awry with the teeth and I think it might be Horizant. Hope it’s not irreversible since nothing else has helped. Furious with side effects. Living with RLS is bad enough, insomnia, cannot sit still or relax at end of day and now this blasted teeth sensitivity and pain.
JBW
I have neuropathy and have been on Gabapenten (400mg) for over 10 years. 2 weeks ago it was upped to 600mg.
I am a cripple so I work on the Computer a lot. Now when I get a demanding change in a program that takes a lot of concentration I panic and get an upset stomach. Is this normal?
JBW
j k
I am on week 14 of withdrawal off gaberpentin had flue jab tues an since then severe diarrhoea has near killed me off. will be glad when tablets finished as losing patience with this drug now as cant take much more.
was told diarrhoea cased with having flu jab so if anyone due to have flu jab don’t have drawing withdrawal as not good. been up last two nights constantly on loo whole night.
Elizabeth
I have recently slowly withdrawn from taking 300mg Gabapentin which I was prescribed to help with burning feet and legs.
I developed a swollen sore throat which I hoped would disappear – not so.
Anyone else experienced this?
Allysen
Meridith, ask your doctor about Tegretol for trigeminal neuralgia. After years of searching and extreme drug doses (i.e. Gabapentin/Neurontin, Gralise) I tried Tegretol and, so far so good. I can sympathize – TN is a terrible condition. Good luck!
Meridith
I’m taking Gabapentin for Trigeminal Neuralgia. I have yet to get any relief from it. I’m wondering about other forms of treatment for it.
RolandScott
I am on day 22 of quitting Gaba cold turkey, I was taking 1800 mg’s a day I have nerve damage. The 1st week is the worse. Withdrawals don’t start till day 3 I been struggling to quit for 3 years so I know pretty well about withdrawing off this Gaba Crap. I decided to quit as I noticed this drug made me sick, mean, and just messed with my mind. I really don’t want to tell my whole story as everyone’s story seems to be the same. I did a lot of research and found that a magnesium/Vitamin d6-d12 supplement helps with the never ending nausea. I had almost every symptom everyone mentions. I don’t recommend anyone quitting cold turkey like I did but ween yourself off while taking the supplements mentioned to help with the nausea. after all I’m on my 22nd day this is the longest I ever quit this drug and I want to help ppl find out how to get rid of the nausea. Exercise seemed to help a lot with my anxiety. You have to be pretty strong minded to quit the way I quit.
JM
I had breast cancer surgery, in May, 2013 and still have pain to this day. The Dr. has prescribed the Gabapentin for pain, but most of the comments I have read, the prescription is for insomnia. From what I have read this medication has terrible effects, I have taken one pill last night and two tonight and that will be my last taking of the drug-Gabapentin.
dkm
This is the first time I have visited this site. I had a crown placed and when the dentist pressed down to set it I experienced extreme pain on the left side of my face. Now I have been told I have nerve damage in the left side of my tongue. My tongue feels like it has sores on it and it feels like a brick also. My teeth hurt my tongue and the tongue doesn’t feel like it fits in my mouth. I also have experienced pain in my left cheek.
I have started neurotin and have worked my way up to 900 mg. I have just started having symptoms of dizziness when I move my head and also experience fatigue. After reading this site I am now going to wean myself off of this drug. I have seen many doctors and no one can help me.
ani
Hi I took Gaba for 2 months for pain. Now I feel tingling all over my body. Could this be side effect?
Anne
Hi, I came across your comments after looking up Gabapentin on the internet. I was specifically looking for elevated blood sugar levels. My husband takes Gabapentin for leg pain. My husband’s blood sugar has steadily climbed to over 200 since he started this. Since he eats a pretty healthy diet most of the time, I am assuming this is medication related. I am wondering how your daughter’s blood sugar is & did you continue the medication ?
Thanks
Allysen
I’ve been coping with trigeminal neuralgia for the last six years. At first I took Neurontin (Gabapentin) starting at 300mg daily and went up and down until eventually I was up to 2700mg with no relief. During this period of time, I also experienced small, circular rashes on my arms and legs which came and went. I never pieced it together that these were an allergic reaction to the Gabapentin. My pain had gotten so bad that my neurologist referred me to a pain management clinic where I was prescribed Gralise (a very powerful form of Gabapentin). The allergic reaction I had to Gralise was astounding. Large rashes appeared on my arms, legs, and head (I’m talking 3-4+ inches in diameter). The rashes were horrible and in one case had to be surgically removed. Needless to say I’m not a big fan of Gabapentin. I’m now taking Tegretol and am doing much better – so far so good with no side effects. Long story short, I write simply to caution others that when starting a new drug, be aware how it’s affecting your entire body – not just how it affects the condition. Don’t make my mistake – connect the dots.
Walt L.
Andrea, I had trigeminal nueuralgia for several years that caused horrendous pain to the side of my face. I was prescribed gabapentin originally but it made me feel goofy all the time. I was still working at the time so I stopped it. eventually all the other drugs I was taking for this condition did not works effectively so my doc prescribed Lyrica. The side effects of Lyrica was more than I could handle. I heard of a procedure called Gama Knife Surgery that was a cure for the Trigeminal Neuralgia so I had that done and the effect was great for about 360 days.
I then started getting this feeling of numbness in my tongue which slowly spread to the entire left side of my face and head. This, I’m told, is the possible side effects of the Gamma Ray and is life long. I now take gabapentin to partially relieve the nerve feelings in my face.
The story of my experiences is quite lengthy but I would not recommend Lyrica. Look up the possible side effects and consider the cost factor of Lyrica as well because this stuff is not cheep and there isn’t a generic.
Good luck, Walt L., Arizona
Andrea
I had jaw surgery in conjunction with orthodontia in 2000 – the surgery was botched and I ended up with severe nerve damage. If the pain/numbness was only in my jaw or lips, it would be okay. But my tongue feels like a brick in my mouth, and I just can’t stand it.
Have taken Neurontin or Gabapentin for ever since the surgery. However, my hair started falling out at an alarming rate 18 months ago. Since I don’t take any other drugs – it must the the Gabapentin.
Lyrica works too, but I’ve never taken it for very long. Has anybody had hair fallout from Lyrica?
I would really like to hear from anybody who has had nerve damage to their tongue!
kellie
I have been 300mg 3x a day for 3 months as well as .5mg of clonazepam at night for bed and started the gabapentin for neuropathy and pain. I now am getting twitching in my face a body now what should I do and which drug is causing this or is it both. could it be tardive dykinesia starting?????please help?
Lynn
I also have Hypermobility syndrome. On Gaba for myalgia type pain, burning sensation on my back (like sunburn or skin rubbed with sandpaper). I have had hair loss, blurred vision, foggy brain, increased anxiety… I feel like I want to try to come off of this medication. I take 100mg 3x a day. Any suggestions on a good way to come off of it?
j k
I would never go on this medicine again if I had found this site b4 hand I would of suffered instead now going to take 4 months to come off as u have to increase dose with a smaller dose to come off then cut down that’s why so long.
A DB
I have been on gabepentin, and now developed nausea, it really does not help my burning in my feet, going off was on 300mg 3 x a day then the Dr. wanted to increase it to 600mg 3x day cannot, I am going to let him know I will suffer with the burning rather then the side effects of the medicine.
C.F.
I have had a genetic, non-diabetic, non-alcohol-drinker, small fiber neuropathy for a dozen years that has been degenerative. I started with Lyrica, but it made a ring around my lips, so I discontinued on doctor’s advice. I started taking neurontin/Gabapentin with small doses, but as the neuropathy progressed, I felt forced to increase the neurontin, because without it, I literally could not function, couldn’t sit still or think straight. I’ve experienced most of the side effects you listed, and a few not listed, (rapid hair loss being one.) But here’s the thing: the pain from neuropathy is not only unlike any other pain, (and I gave birth to a 9 lb. baby without any medication,) the disease itself causes many of the side effects: suicidal thoughts, (my brother, who did not take neurontin, but also had the disease, eventually took his own life because of the neuropathy pain.)
Like many of the people who’ve commented, I’ve had to weigh the pros and cons. I’ve been on 3800 mg., divided into 4- 900mg. doses and 2-100 mg. doses, distributed throughout a 24-hour period. My neurologist broke it into several doses, instead of even three, and it not only seems to have helped more, but the side effects are more tolerable.
In addition, I have discovered r-alpha lipoic acid, an anti-oxident that you can find through several companies, the main two that I’ve had success with are Country Life and Genova Research. Taking cheaper brands, that haven’t separated the “s” from the “r” only increase the (uncomfortable) side effects, and really don’t help as much, because you’re getting only 50% of the “r,” (the other 50% being “s,” which is worthless.) I take 600mg. of only “r” daily, broken into 3- equally timed doses. DO NOT take more than this, because it would be very bad for the g.i. tract. Be patient with the “RALA,” (R-alpha Lipoic Acid.) I took it for a few weeks before noticing incredible improvement– I started experiencing a “hungry stomach” again for the first time in half-dozen years. I started tasting foods again, and the neuropathy that had started in my fingers as well as feet seems to be controlled with the use of RALA.
I have also started taking, thanks to advice from the People’s Pharmacy, a synthetic form of B vitamin called “Benfotiamine.” This one took awhile to find, but I’ve found Doctors’ Best company carries it, and they are a safe company from which to buy online. (My pharmacist warned me about unknown companies online, because you might not get what it says it is.) I take a total of 300 mg. daily, broken into 2 doses.
All of this being said, my point is that yes, everything horrible you say about neurontin is true, but the alternative, the unbearable, knife-stabbing pain is even worse. My hope is that the RALA and Benfotiamine will continue to not only help the pain, but reverse the damage to the cells, (yes, I’ve had biopsy proof– the neuropathy in your mouth, tongue, teeth, etc. is one of the worse,)will help enough that I can eventually decrease, if not even stop the neurontin. The alternative my brother tried– no neurontin. He not only ended up literally crazy, he took his own life, because he just couldn’t take the pain anymore. When I weigh the pros and cons, living with the dangerous side effects of neurontin or killing myself, well, it’s a no-brainer. My heart goes out to anyone with any kind of neuropathy; it truly is indescribable!
corynski
Greetings
Gabapentin was prescribed for Restless Legs syndrome so I tried it. Soon I noticed my driving was affected, especially at night. Then going around curves became especially difficult, so I decided not to continue with it, and started Pramipexol (Mirapex), which has become a lifesaver for me. And Restless Legs can be really maddening when sleep is essential. It took months before I regained my driving confidence after the Gabapentin experience.
I find it interesting that it affects people so differently. Some friends of mine have also had bad experiences with it so be very cautious as you begin this medication.
charley, 75, Lancing, Tn
Julie M
Hi Barbara,
It sounds like you have what I have. I have excruciating pain on my left side of face and head and all the way down my arm and leg too. I am getting a brain MRI tomorrow. I am currently on gabapentin 300 mg 3 x a day. It makes me so tired though and I have been having cramps in my legs and my foot. I don’t know if it is the gabapentin or not…. maybe Peoples pharmacy can answer that? At any rate, I have been scared I am not going to be able to work anymore. This has been awful. The meds help with the pain, at least I don’t end up in the ER; like I was initially. But, I can’t work like I use too either. Can you?
nette
What I would like to know is can the med gabapentin make my sugar go up? I have been taking this for about three weeks and before I started my sugar was ok running about (120-180) and now it is running (210-300).
I also started eating a lot of raw walnuts as a snack, staying away from the sweets. I just had a kidney transplant and it is not a year old yet!! I would like to know what I am doing wrong why has my sugar gone and what would you suggest I do about this matter or is it from the med gabapentin? Also are walnuts a good snack for a person with sugar problems? Please help, I am open to any knowledge cause I do not want to lose my new kidney it took me five long hard years to get to this point. Thank you.
Peoples Pharmacy response: Gabapentin can raise blood sugar. Please check with your physician.
bev c.
I started taking gabapentin last night for fibromyalgia pain and insomnia, I slept better than I have in a long time but feel a bit sick. Will this go away?
J.B.
From What I have read, there is No Way I’m taking this. My doctor gave this to me a week ago for just sleeping. Thank god I looked it up. So glad I didn’t start this med like the doctor wanted me too. So I hope to all of you out there to tell people to look up all meds before you take anything and talk to your doctor about it. Good luck and please take care.
ovies
Hi, I am new to this site, if I can find some answers it would be great, for the last 15 years I have had extreme pain in both my legs, sitting and standing more than 30 minutes is to much, I spend most my time lying down. I have taken cocktails of all sorts of drugs over the years but the last 6 year’s have been 200mg of slow release tramadol twice a day and 1200mg gabapentin 3 times a day, my pain is very high. My life consists of sleeping and fatigue all day, my question is can I take another drug with less time spent sleeping. Many thanks.
JH
Been using Gabapentin for 6 months for Herniated Discs that are impinging on nerves. I think it is amazing. I take 300 ml every 12 hours. It allows me to live my life without the excruciating nerve pain in my thigh. Only after reading some comments did I realize it has eliminated my hot flashes. Even better!!!
My long term intentions are to try all resources to eliminate the pain. However, I am totally aware that the meds are only band aids… I will probably have surgery to correct my problem so that I can discontinue the meds that could possibly cause other problems. Thanks everyone for sharing and good luck to all of you!!!
Anna
Lynn–I have the same things happen to me..weepiness and difficulty achieving orgasm. It sounds like we have the same doctor as well. I have no suggestions for you, but just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. Made me feel better too, knowing it wasn’t just me. Good Luck…to both of us!
Naef B.
It would have helped greatly if this person had stated what he/she meant by “it has begun to affect my quality of life”. That said, your generic response was about as distantly informed as an outside observer could obtain. I have been on Neurontin for twelve years and take 3000 mg per day. It is possible that this person has begun to feel sluggish because of the high dose.
I can tell you from extensive experience that this sluggishness is preferable to the confusion, lingering somnolence, and potential depression which come from using Ambien and Ambien-similar sleep medications. I recommend to this person that he/she try 50 mg. of the atypical antidepressant TRAZODONE. It is a poor antidepressant but a fantastic sleep medication. It is so effective that you won’t need any gabapentin at all.
As far as Neurontin being a “heavy-duty medication”, nothing could
be more erroneous. Gabapentin is a very, very subtle drug, which is why psychiatrists prescribe it at such high doses. I am not trying to promote the practice of using high doses, but to suggest that 1800 mg is the maximum dose that is safe—is the advice of someone who speaks without real-life experience.
Viv
I’ve been using Gabapentin intermittently for 2 years for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder and also insomnia. I have found it incredible and for the first time in many years am I now able to sleep at appropriate times (before midnight). The side affects for me are vagueness and some memory loss- but overall, the positives and increased quality of life out weigh the negatives.
I recommend this med for people with chronic insomnia along side natural methods such as no caffeine, dimming lights from 8pm, window open for fresh air, and relaxation deep breathing excercises.
Noreen M.
Noreen April 7, 2013
This is my 1st time on this site.
I have learned from everyone’s comments and I thank you for them. I had a below knee amputation in 2003 b/c my congenital abnormal limb had deteriorated despite all the surgeries. The amputation has given me a better quality of life b/c I no longer have chronic, severe bone pain.
To the astonishment of my various doctors, I took nothing for that pain.
I’m in good health, am not Diabetic, take Crestor for high cholesterol (familial) & 1 Low Dose Aspirin daily, do not smoke and am not overweight. 1 then 2 then 3 and now 8+ times/year I experience bouts (1-3 days) of severe nerve pain in my stump.
I take Percocet & Valium as prescribed for 1-3 days until the pain stops.
Once it starts I’m to hit it “hard & fast” with Percocet & Valium as that leads to pain of a shorter duration (usually 1 day now) and longer episodes between bouts of pain (I wish!).
B/C my stump is shrinking (some stumps don’t shrink at all) 1 year ago, my surgeon said I could expect “more nerve pain and sensations” and now I am.
Since the bouts of severe pain became so frequent, 7 months ago I went on Gabapentin 100mg 3 times/day (tid) with the hope of preventing the bouts of pain &/or decreasing the severity of the pain during a bout, and b/c it would help with my troublesome post-menopausal hot flashes.
5 months later in February, like overnight, the hot flashes came back but not as bad as before Gabapentin, and the nerve pain came more often, so as prescribed I took Gabapentin 200mg 3 times/day.
Then 1 month later in March (6 months after starting Gabapentin) the hot flashes & nerve pain in my stump increased again, so as prescribed took Gabapentin 300mg tid.
To KD of September 3rd, 2012: I did and do feel an increase in being light-headed sooner than 3 hours after taking a dose. In fact, on 300mg tid I now feel light-headed all the time & fortunately I just carry on with my life driving a car safely etc. I have gained weight (5 lbs), have 2 more small psoriasis spots, feel lethargic (more so on 300mg tid) & light-headed (at 1st just for a couple of hours after taking a dose but now with 300mg tid all the time) & I think for 3 months have trouble finding the right words to say (embarrassing) and the pain during the pain bouts are as I described to my doctor ‘dumbed-down.”
When 1st on the drug I noticed immediately that my thought processes were slowed down but I liked the calm feeling. Today I’ve started to wean myself off Gabapentin slowly; 200mg instead of 300mg tid etc. When the next bout of severe stump pain hits I’ll treat it as I always do with Percocet & Valium.
I learned that although the Gabapentin took the edge off the severe nerve pain, I had to hit the pain bout ‘hard & fast’ or the pain wouldn’t go away; so no decrease in using Percocet and Valium.
I have an amputation journal that I use with my doctor and my prosthetic technician.
I write down every Percocet & Valium I take and why. My doctor said I take so few that she has no concern that I will get addicted. I’m hoping that once off Gabapentin I can stay off it and not start any new drug. However, time will tell.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress but in less words!
All the best to each of you.
Lynn
Was taking Gabapentin for nerve problems caused by scar tissue from a surgery. However, have had issues with weepiness which the doctor seems to ignore and have also had an issue with an inability to achieve orgasm. Has anyone else had this issue? I stopped taking the meds for several days and this seems to have resolved so I am confident that this is the problem but it’s a real struggle to function either way.
Wilhelmina
Hi, I have Hypermobility Syndrome and IBS, I have extreme flexibility (or had) the Gabapentine has stiffened me up, not in a good way, I have been on this for 4 years now, up and down doses to find the right amount, the confusion has stayed throughout, I also suffer seeing objects surrounded in light, and I think it’s not covering the pain as much either, but don’t want to go back up in dosage, I have acne I didn’t before, I bruise easily, constipation and blockages am told that’s the IBS but its worse now ,the fatigue is crippling, I gained 2stone very rapidly, I forget words when I am speaking, trying to describe the word as it feels like its stuck in my head, I crave sugary things which I NEVER ate before, drinking more fluids too, I get really frustrated as I feel doctors are just not listening.
I decided a few weeks ago to come off the Gabapentine, coming off slowly but even dropping the odd tablet in a day I feel the difference, my pain is still bad but if I feel this pill is making my life a misery. I have no quality of life which is not fair on my kids, all they know is Mum sleeps a lot and cries with the pain. Not a great life for them either. And you know what I think I feel like I will be stronger to find an alternative now, as I was so despondent I think I had just resigned myself to the docs saying gabapentine was pretty much it as I have been on Dihydrocodeine for years and years, I know am ok on it been on it for so long at least I can function, there is no way that’s the only option for people ,if you get too many side effects it’s not for you, its just not worth it, docs need to do more, and this pill needs more testing, not on animals I might add, but listening to patients already taking it!! Just as scary is the effects coming off it, I hope I manage with no complaints!!
Sam
I don’t know if any others have experienced the following but thought I’d share a side effect I’ve experienced while taking Gabapentin.
I’m currently taking Gabapentin for nerve pain in my neck, shoulder, and arm. I’ve had two cervical fusions in the past and recently an epidural.
This is the first time I’ve taken Gabapentin. Two weeks into this Gabapentin therapy I decided that I didn’t like smoking anymore. Didn’t taste good, didn’t make me feel good, and when the pack of cigarettes I had ran out I quit. After 44 years of smoking and quitting, I finally stopped. I don’t understand it, but I’ll take it. The only other side effect I’ve had is vivid dreaming.
JS
Jamie
I have Fibromialga and restless leg and heat flashes for 15 years now and I am Bipolar and my Doctor put me on Pamipexole (Mirapex) and it has helped my restless leg as well and the pain in my back but I only take it in the mornings because it keeps me awake at nights and so it kind of wares off in the evenings so the Neurontin takes over in the evenings with my back pain and my heat flashes, I’m only on 400 mg and I have upped it two times and I’m scared to up it again because I am very sensitive to hair loss and I have grown my hair most of my life its way below my seat and now thin from all the antidepressants I have been on, this hair loss has stopped due to a natural antidepressant I take called Amoryn its way better than any prescription antidepressant I have ever taken. Hope this helps someone. JS
Jamie
I am on max Tramadol and 2100 mg Neurontin since Dec 2012. Chronic back pain from accident which compressed 4 discs lower back. The doctor has said I can go to 2700 mg max Neurontin. The pain is still such as to lead me to believe that 2700mg will not even cover the pain. Is there any other pain killer that I could add/replace in such an event? I do not suffer from any serious side effects.
Nancy
OK everyone listen up:
Gabapentin is NOT the same as Neurotin. It’s a generic. Generics do not have the same exact standards as the patent brand per FDA rules. It only has to meet somewhere between a range of 80% to 125% effectiveness. In addition, each generic manufacturer uses different fillers and binders than the patent brand. Most pharmacies will fill with the cheapest generic to increase their profits! Did you know there is a tier to generic manufactures. Ask your pharmacist. The only generic manufacturer that I found effective was from Greenstone mfg. The others were twice the size of the patented Neurotin filled with fillers and binders that caused serious side effects in me and did nothing for the pain.
Jane
I was recently put on Gabapentin twice daily for diabetic neuropathy problems, including severe night leg cramps. What I am wondering is, will the soporific effect lessen with time? I actually ended up in the hospital because I took my night dose at 11:30 because I had to work late and took the morning dose at 7:00 a.m. I couldn’t walk straight, my hands were twitching so I was dropping things, my eyes were twitching like I was drunk and had nystagmus, and I couldn’t talk straight either. My coworkers insisted I go to the ER as, I think, they were worried about stroke.
I will add that my blood work showed that I was also dehydrated and that I had worked about 80 hours the week before so was suffering from exhaustion as well. Also, the blood work showed that my kidneys were borderline so I may have had a buildup of waste in my blood.
pjh
I have been on Gabapentin, 300 mg 3x daily. I am going on my fifth week and the dizziness is still a problem. I am now having horizontal double vision. I have had some really ridiculous mental issues, that when I had time to think about what I had said in some conversations, was waiting for someone to call the men in white to come for me. I work in a profession where I make serious decisions so will immediately start the tapering off of this drug. I have also been falling asleep every time I sit down, which is extremely unusual when my normal sleep is about 6 or less hours a night.
I have had Shingles for about two months on half of the torso but will deal with the burning, itching and pain without Gabapentin! Blessings to all who have life altering medical issues much more serious than Shingles, and thanks to everyone that shared their issues to help the rest of us.
Brittany
I take up to 1800mg gabapentin daily for diabetic neuropathy. I’ve not had any side effects from it. In fact I have been able to cut my Risperdal dose in half and my moods are still stable and I have no psychiatric symptoms of my bipolar or schizophrenia (I have both). I’ve noticed now that this is the second time that the gabapentin did not help my neuropathic pain. I don’t know what to do! I’m sitting here with blazing legs and nothing to fix the pain. Sleep usually helps with the pain but it didn’t this time. I’m worried I’ll have to find a pain management doctor and start taking narcotics soon. I worry about dependency on those.
I’ve not gained any weight from taking gabapentin, no drowsiness, no issues sleeping, no other side effects.
Tony
What I thought was hip trouble was a jangled, inflamed nerve aggravated by degenerating discs in my lower back. My doc started me off on one 300 gabapentin per day, but I was told to take it before bedtime, and only after a week was it increased to before bedtime and with breakfast. At one point I added one at lunch (it turned out my work area and posture were making it worse), but after a few weeks cut back because I was falling asleep during meetings. Maybe try taking it at night before bed, and seeing if that helps enough and keeps you from being sleepy during the day. (Physical therapy and sitting on a wedge pillow helped me as well, but then we have different problems).
LIS
I an suppose to begin taking My presct. of Gabapentin tonight before bed but after reading all these negative testimonials about it I am afraid to take it. It was prescribed for my leg pain and numbness. I am to begin with l 300 milligram nightly for 7 days and increase it to 2 a day. I am thinking Negatively.
AnyaB.
I was prescribed Neurontin six years ago for Trigeminal Neuralgia. A couple of months later, I began having small circular red rashes on my arms, but my internist thought this was probably attributable to changing seasons. Over the years, sometimes the Neurontin would help me, other times it wouldn’t. Finally, the Neurontin just stopped helping the Trigeminal Neuralgia altogether.
At my neurologist’s suggestion, I saw a pain management physician who prescribed Gralise. The Gralise worked great except within a month I had HUGE circular red itchy rashes on my arms and legs. I saw a dermatologist who told me it was a medication I was taking. One by one, I came off my meds and, lo and behold, the rash subsided when I came off Gralise. I’m still searching for something to help me with the Trigeminal Neuralgia (it’s so painful!) but at least I don’t have that horrible rash on my arms and legs!
M S M
I was taking neurontin for my back pain, and after a short while, my two large toes were turning black and blue and getting swollen and red. My family doctor told me to stop immediately, which I did. This was over a year ago, and since then I have lost my two large toenails and a second time on my right toe. I have been unable to clear my toenails. They have a black color to the top of them, besides a couple of other toenails turning color. I wonder if anyone else has had this and if toenails can possibly get back to normal?
DH
Hi There
I am up at 4:30 because, although I had neuropathy before taking Gabapentin , this drug has made mine worse too!!! I am on 200mg at bedtime
Notice my hair is falling out too.
Also, since I went up to 200 from 100, now I have insomnia.
There is something called a paradoxical reaction to drugs which means you get what the drug is supposed to help.
You are not alone!!
Sonia
Hi,
How much Gabepantin did you take before you start to get relief from migraines? I’ve just started to use it after suffering from migraines for 5 years. I’m taking 2 pills 3 times a day, but don’t know exactly the strength.
thanks,
Sonia
Stephanie S.
I posted earlier when I started detox from Neurontin. I’m now entering month 4 and not a lot has changed. Still experiencing nausea and neuro ‘zapping’ and extreme weakness. But, that said, I also started detoxing 4 weeks ago from the Xanax the doctor had prescribed for anxiety. I’d only been taking about .5 – 1 mg. a day, but I’ve been taking it for about a year. I learned something VERY interesting and thought I’d pass it on. The 3 meds I’ve been on the past 3 years, Lunesta (for sleep), Neurontin (for pain) and Xanax (for anxiety) ALL work on the SAME brain receptors for GABA. I had the exact same awful symptoms when I stopped the Lunesta 2 years ago and it landed me in the hospital for a week. The clueless doctors kept trying to tell me that it wasn’t from the Lunesta, but I know better now.
If you Google GABA withdrawal it lists all the horrible symptoms, almost all I’ve experienced or been experiencing since trying to get off all the meds. I have no idea how long this is going to last, but it’s pretty miserable. I know there are 1000’s of people who take these meds with no problems at all, but I wanted to caution about layering one upon another, especially when they seem to affect the same brain chemical. Regards…….
Leila
My 9 year old daughter was put on Gabapentin about 2 months ago. She takes 1 capsule three times a day. The capsules are 100mg. She is taking it for spine and nerve pain. She has a tethered spinal cord, and has been through spinal cord surgeries. Since she started taking GABA all I really noticed was sleepiness in her for the first few days. There isn’t any other pain (yet) that she is having besides the original nerve pain in her back and neck. GABA is actually helping her with her symptoms. I have no complaints about that.
However, my husband is a diabetic and has a blood sugar tester at home. Our daughter started complaining of random headaches about 1 month into her GABA use. We also noticed she was drinking a lot of water. So as concerned curious parents, we checked her blood sugar. I just about fell over when her blood sugar level read 200!!! That is way to high for anyone! We keep re testing her and all the levels are above 150. And normal is less than 99. She hasn’t ever had high blood sugar before. I think this is being caused by her taking the gabapentin. I am going to wean her off and continue to monitor her sugars. The neurosurgeon is aware and didn’t have much to say.
Has anyone ever experienced high blood sugar after starting gabapentin? Did you have normal sugars before? I have looked around on the web and there is some talk about it. I just don’t want my precious daughter becoming diabetic from a nerve pill, when there is definitely something out there she can take for her tethered cord pain. Maybe I should go back to the good ol Tylenol….. Help!!! Thanks!!!
John J F
I have been taking a daily dose of 7 – 800 mg gabapenten tablets – 5600 mgs per day, for over 10 years for pain from an inner brain bleed. Right side is in very bad pain – neuropathic daily until at least 4800 mgs by 12 noon.
Serious dry skin side effects and urinating frequency – 12 to 15 time per day, smaller amounts.
Need advice on problem of urinating frequency. Need advice on alternatives to Gabapenten.
Vanessa
My husband has rapid cycle bipolar and has extreme restless leg syndrome which he was on medications for that were not working. Doctor put him on 100 mg Gab which was to increase to 300 after the first week. Anyway, pharmacy screwed up, gave him 300 to start. Since being on this med (about 3 wks)he has been experiencing pain in his lower right back, he says its not muscle and feels like it’s internal. He has also been EXTREMELY agitated, angry, anxious, and manic. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if these symptoms are unrelated. He has been on the same bipolar meds for several years so don’t think they are causing these symptoms.
Lee
I have been taking gabapentin for several months and just started taking
Vitamin D, 2000. Should this combination cause my stool to be black?
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: No. Please check with your doctor. Black tarry stool can indicate intestinal bleeding.
Stephanie S
EJ, I am now over 100 days off Neurontin and I still feel absolutely awful. The nausea is near constant, I have terrible increased all over nerve pain, especially bad in my legs, wicked heart palpitations, the zapping, terrible anxiety. I STILL wish I would have NEVER, NEVER gone on the med. I’m sure having CFS and Addison’s just makes everything worse, so I’m not necessarily the poster child for this. But, I still would advise extreme caution for anyone considering it. On the other hand, I have a girlfriend who suffered from terrible back pain, has been on 300 mg. a day for several years with absolutely no problems and swears it got her life back. What can I say?
Wb
take it before bed as my dr prescribed
EJ
Stephanie,
Sorry to hear all that you are dealing with. My husband was on the drug, 1@400mg a day, for about a month, but started to have a host of nasty side effects that really messed with the quality of life. He stopped taking it and the effects got worse to start with but seem less now. We are now 2 months later and he still is having the zapping that you described, jitters, on and off anxiety, and increased back and leg pain. I was wondering how you were doing now a few months on from your original post.
EJ
mc
I took gabapentin for about a year several years ago for migraines. It did not help so stopped, but while I was taking it I had numbness in my left arm, shortness of breath and I thought I was getting Alzheimers. After I stopped taking it all returned to normal.
Lynn
I have been on Gabapentin 300mg for a few months now… for nerve pain (mostly burning sensation on back). I was doing great… until about a month ago… a headache that came and never went away. Yes, I think my vision changed too. I slowly decreased my Gaba over 3-5 days… now the burning sensation is back again but the headache (almost) gone. I have to weigh the benefits… I don’t know which is better?
I’m so tired of going to Drs. and everyone addressing their own field and not working together. I see a hormone specialist for hypothyroidism and estrogen dominance, cardiologist for mitral valve and bicuspid aortic valve, pain Dr. for muscular/nerve pain… I’m not even sure the Gaba gave me headaches… going to see if the headaches go away and start gaba again to see if they come back. Does anyone know how long gaba stays in your system? I can’t afford to “see” my doctor for a drug change for this… so trying on my own.
M. M.
I feel strongly about gabapentin, as it is the only prescription to which I have had a bad reaction.
I have fibromyalgia. My nurse practitioner prescribed a low dose of xanax to help me sleep. My rheumatologist objected to the xanax and prescribed a low dose of gabapentin as a sleep aid. It did help me sleep. I took the gabapentin for about two months.
During that time I experienced blurred vision, which kept getting worse until I couldn’t read a newspaper. I woke up with a headache most mornings. My balance and coordination were off – I began running into things. I fell on my driveway and badly bruised my elbow – luckily it didn’t break, but it’s still painful 3 months later. My driving ability was affected. It interfered with my sexual functioning.
My heart started beating too fast. In response to that, the same doctor took me off Savella, which I had taken successfully for several years.
I began to experience sleep apnea and had several panic attacks during the night when I woke up gasping for air. It got to the point where I started to panic when I went to bed. I ended up back on Xanax for the panic attacks!
I stopped taking gabapentin abruptly after my family doctor said it would not cause a problem to do so (perhaps because my dosage was low).
I realize gabapentin is very helpful to many people, but I want to advise care and awareness of its possible side effects. I would take it to save my life if necessary, but insomnia is way preferable to the side effects I had.
Cam
My hair was falling out at the 300 mg dose. I went up to 1500mg but only stayed on GABA at that titrated dose a week before beginning my tapering off. Tremors were scaring me as was weight gain. Balance was an issue and I was in a fog. I just did not trust it after being a thyroid patient which also became a dosing strength problem (thyroidectomy in ’95)! My hair is slowly beginning to come back, thankfully!
Having the parathyroid surgery last March was a miracle for me; think that is what caused my neuropathy and I worry the damage is permanent! Will know after I try the product mentioned in my previous post…
Cam
I just read for hours on neurotalk and went to the Neurotreatment Group website, talked to a consultant about their formula and ordered it. I have very high hopes of this product working after the failure of neurontin (gabe) and other drugs. The use of the vitamin B group with ALA makes more sense than anything else to me.
Thanks, Joy, for posting this info. I will update after taking the Neuropathy Group Treatment Formula. It makes sense and hopefully will work. I have been taking Metanx which offered only minor relief and this formula costs about the same!
My neuropathy is caused by parathyroid tumors removed last March (hyperparathyroidism), now cured, but nerve damage resulted … Have your PTH levels checked to make sure this condition isn’t affecting you ….
Read about it at parathyroid.com. Dr Norman did my surgery in Tampa. Made my atrial fib go away, as well, and I lost 30 pounds! Docs ch your TSH but seldom your PTH!!
Janet
I have been put on 100 mg of Gabapentin 3 times a day for my Fibromialga and RLS and Heat Flashes, this could be my miracle drug except that I am very sensitive to drugs and a number of antidepressants has caused severe hair loss and I cannot afford any more, can anyone tell me what dose causes the hair loss, I can get by with only taking 100 mg a day at night if I need to but I do need the help this offers to give?
Thanks Janet
Joy
Neuropathy is a terrible disease for anyone. There is a lot of helpful information at neurotalk.org both for perscription drugs and for vitamins etc
LAG
Hi Nancy, I had a similar problem and just posted my results, BTW I am female and 56. I was on 1200 mg post spinal surgery and neuropathy for about 1 year, ramped down to 300 mg over the year, then just weaned myself off over the past 3 weeks. I did go from 300 mg to 100 mg and had horrible insomnia during this ramp down. I bit the bullet, had three sleepless weeks, drank brandy to help me get some sleep and now am off of gaba completely. Hang in there and eventually you’ll be back to normal. LAG
LAG
Hi, I just wanted to close out my thread regarding insomnia while weaning myself off of Gaba. It took me 3 weeks to go from 300 mg to 0 and I had terrible insomnia during this time. I’m off of all my medications post surgery and can sleep again. It was harder to stop the gaba then the opiates. Go figure. Best wishes to all of you who are ramping down.
LDC
I got shingles 1.5 years ago, May 2011. After suffering for months, I was put on gabapentin for the scalp itch and for pain. I do have hair loss, depressive thoughts, rash-serbasious dermatitis and psoriasis, ear ringing. I want to try Lyrica but it is soo expensive. With my insurance, gabapentin costs $5 but for Lyrica it is like $200 and that is for only 30 mg. a day.
I’m not sure if gabapentin is worth it. Though I take 800 mg. every 5 or 6 hours, I still wake up at night and have to ice my head. I also take Oxycodone for pain. It doesn’t take away the extreme itch though.
You are the first person I’ve read about with a condition like mine. I feel very alone.
Nancy
I am 53 year old female and acquired shingles this fall. I was prescribed Gabapentin for the pain which worked very well. I was taking 300 mg 3 x a day. I did this for probably 6 weeks to 2 months at most. While on this medicine I slept very well, overall felt a generalized mood stabilizing effect although initially was a bit loopy before I got used to it ( about 4 days).
Anyway, I was told to wean off gradually. My problem now is insomnia like I have never had before..every night I wake for hours after initially going to sleep. I weaned off one pill down for about 3 days, then dropped another then kept one pill ( 300 mg) at night only for a week, then weaned off that in about 4 days time.
I am wondering now after reading that some say to wean over a longer period than I did, if there is a benefit in getting back on it at night and then weaning off differently over a longer period or is it best to just tough this out since I am already off now for about 10 days to 2 weeks?
anyway, wanted to share how insomnia has persisted. Would love to know how long I can expect it to be a problem.
thanks and I appreciate your sites information on this subject,
Nancy
BCH
My gabapenton (Neurotin) prescription was increased from 300mg/day to 900 gradually over several months. It has affected me adversely… my legs and feet hurt much worse and keep me awake most of the night. and nothing seems to take away the pain. I take Hydrocodone 7.5-500 prn for pain. I have had 5 back surgeries, the last one over a year ago included hardware (6 – 4in rods and screws from T 11-12 thru L 3-4. I fell recently and now I have a ruptured disc at T10-11 and a herniated disc at L 2-3. I have seen my surgeon and he indicates that more surgery is the only answer… whereas my primary doctor just increased my gabapenton.
I’m at a loss about where to go from here. I have been going to both doctors for many years. I do not sleep at night because my feet and legs hurt so bad. Also it is more difficult to walk and now I use a 4 wheel walker whereas before I used a cane. I need some more help from somewhere.
SB
I have been taking anywhere from 100 to 900-1200 mg Neurontin for about 15 years, most of the time I have been taking 300 mg. I stopped taking it about a month ago. Here are some of my long term side effects:
1. Hair loss. I have had gradual hair loss over the 15 years. My mother (73), grandmothers, and all female relatives have very full heads of hair, I’m certain the loss is from the Neurontin. Hair loss started front and top and gradually made its way to the back of my head so that the entire top center portion of my head hair has extremely thin, fine, hairs that will only grow 1/2 to 1 inches long.
2. Dry eyes. I noticed that this went away almost immediately after stopping.
3. Detail vision. My vision for activities such as reading and detail work declines dramatically when my Neurontin dosage is increased.
4. Arthritis. At higher dosages (900 mg – 1200 mg), I developed severe arthritis in my hips. After taking for 15 years, I’ve developed arthritis in my lower back — I don’t know if this is from neurontin but I suspect it contributed to the problem. I find this ironic since I hear that neurontin is sometimes prescribed for arthritis pain.
I asked my doctor about the hair loss many years ago, and he looked it up in the PDR and claimed it must be from something else. Wrong! I’m hoping the hair loss will reverse itself over time. I’m also hoping the arthritis will be somewhat diminished over time.
BTW, I reduced my dosage very gradually over about 6 months. I know that’s a long time, but reducing the dosage gave me pretty severe insomnia so I would open the capsule and dump out a very tiny bit. I increased the amount I dumped out very gradually over time.
Belinda S.
Was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and had severe pain. Didn’t have tremors but other symptoms of Parkinson’s. for pain relief as I cannot tolerate codeine I was put on gabapentin (3200) and sr tramadine (2/300) daily. Since then jelly movements initially like seizures developed, as I have asked docs if I could wean myself off them both the jerky seizures went to more severe shaking, and now trembling.
Now down to only 300 gab and 50 tramal sr but docs are saying my seizures, reduced to shivers, to trembling is psychological and I don’t believe it or am having difficulty coming to terms with that. Next step is to ask to stop one completely, which one is more likely to cause the symptoms I have described as I can recall the seizures only starting when put on these two drugs and wish to prove a moot point,
Thanks
LAG
I have been on gabapentin for over a year for neuropathy which existed prior to multi level cervical fusion and disc replacement. I have been tapering off of gaba (300 -> 200 -> 100mg over a week) and am down to 100mg a day. Over the past two weeks (200 -> 100mg) I have been plagued by increased insomnia: the less I take the less sleep I get. Has anyone else experienced this and were you able to sleep after you were off of the medication? How long did it take for sleep to become normal?
bw
Would you mind telling me how many mg of Gabapentin you are on? I have not read or been advised that it caused hair to fall out which is quite worrisome.
djd
I am still perplexed that Gabapentin is given for peripheral neuropathy because I was diagnosed with that after taking Gabapentin! The neurologist confirmed it! I now have permanent damage to my feet. Go figure. I did not have headaches but constipation was a definite problem. Also, hair loss, a large weight gain, a rash over most of my body, gastric problems, etc. Since I was taking no other meds and eating healthy foods, I will always be at a loss for what happened to me. I guess it was just my body’s reaction.
SadieM
I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and was given 900mg of gabapentin per day about 3 weeks ago. From the beginning, I suffered severe headaches. They have ceased for the most part, but now I am suffering from incontinence. Will this also go away in time?
Larry R
I have been taking up to 4 x 300mg per day to supplement the Requip for restless legs. I have maxed out on the amount the Requip that is allowed. I don’t know of any side effects except that it makes my sweet tooth problem a lot worse. I also don’t know if it is doing me much good. I vary my dose from none to 4 without knowing that getting off of it is such a big issue. I am very old and confused by the drugs I have been offered and the positives and negatives.
SEL
I started gapa. Two weeks ago. Now taking 3 x. 300mg. Helped on migraines and neck and shoulder pain and sleep better but has caused weight gain already and elevated blood sugar and pain in feet. So after reading these reports I am getting off and see what happens.
KAC
Dear Debby or Cappy: I am new to this site but am also interested in the how discovered and amounts of other holistic items taken to replace Neurontin. I would love to get off of the 1500mg I have been taking daily for 8 years. Hope either of you have found some answers and will post for the rest of us!
KAC
I am interested in your combination of tart cherry capsules, alpha lipoid acid, and Vitamin D combination instead of Gabapentin/Neurontin. How did you discover this combination? Was it physician recommended or by another type of health care advisor? Are these products you can purchase in a health food store?
I have been on 1500 mg of Gabapentin for 8 years but as I crossed to age 60 I am starting to be concerned about liver filtering as I get older. I also take a number of other RX meds and would like to cut way back in general. Also the current climate of name brands all being filled as generics makes me leery of the QA and efficacy of the new generic formulations.
dj
Once again I will state that I don’t understand why this drug is given for peripheral neuropathy because it CAUSED my neuropathy as diagnosed by a neurologist. The only problem I was having was severe pain in my feet and I would much prefer that now and being able to feel my feet! My feet still swell badly during the day and I still have aches and pains I never had before as a result of this drug. For me, it has changed my life and not for the better. I appreciate
life but I was not ready for this at 62!
dj
rbt
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for about 7 months. It has caused me a stiff neck pain. It was prescribed for peripheral neuropathy on my feet.
Would like to wean of of it due to all the potential effects.
DYJ
I got shingles the end of April of this year, and began taking Gabapentin for the pain, tingling and itching. The shingles were in my head and left side of my face. I’m glad I found this site, because you all are talking about side effects of this drug, similar to what I am now having. I think I will start weaning off of it.
I only take 100 mg. three times a day, and it is still effecting my feelings of anxiety, dizziness, and especially memory and thought processing. I can begin a sentence, and forget what I was even talking about. I thought I might have the beginning of Alzheimers. I think I can put up with the tingling and itching, better than these other symptoms that either started or got much worse after taking Gabapentin for six months.
Has anyone thought it was effecting their mind? I thought it might be because the nerves that were effected by the singles were in my head. I’m going to talk to my doctor about seeing a neurologist when I go to him next week.
djd
I only can tell you what happened to me. They evidently give
Gabapentin for neuropathy but it caused mine. The neurologist
did a test on me and said I had permanent peripheral neuropathy.
Besides all the other side effects, it affected my life dramatically.
My feet are so weird–partial numbness, partial hyper-sensitivity
(I cannot walk without shoes) etc. They swell up during the day.
I also gained over 40 pounds.
Funny thing is that I have no appetite and can only eat a very small amount. Because of my feet, exercise is a lot harder but I really try.
I am still very concerned about this drug.
dj
Ginny K.
Cappy, I would like to know what mgs. of tart cherry capsules, alpha lipoic acid capsules, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B complex do you take. I’m interested in what you have to say about how you are feeling now, after a few months of being on the regimen you put yourself on. I’ve been reading what others have said about Gabapentin issues and I believe you’re the only one who’s found post-Gabapentin success.
Please tell us how you are doing now.
Catherine
I was taking Lyrica for Neuropathic neck pain and it worked perfectly well and I had zero side effects. I would recommend this as an alternative medicine to anyone who is having difficulty with Gabapentin.
The only reason I had to stop taking the Lyrica was because it is quite expensive and this year I fell into the Medicare Gap so could no longer afford it. I tried Gabapentin as an alternative but way too many nasty side effects. So in January on 2013 I will again be asking my doctor for Lyrica; in the meantime I will endure the pain.
No more Gabapentin for me.
djd
I will not comment further about my issues with Gabapentin and how it
changed my life (permanent neuropathy and trouble with my feet and edema etc). I really would like to have the FDA do further studies on this drug. Even at the FDA site concerning Gabapentin there are all kinds of warnings.
As a person who never liked pills, I am sorry that I ever gave in to this.
One lady said my age (62) had nothing to do with it but it is true that
as we grow older we might have different reactions.
djd
Nb
Dj. You are the first person I’ve come across who has gotten neuropathy from neurontin. I took it for 1 week for migraines and now am experiencing neuropathy and burning sensations all over my body. It’s been 1 week since I stopped taking it and I still have it. Did your neuropathy get better or go away with time off the drug. Please answer as I am desperate for answers. Thank you.
Nicki
London
Hi
I am not sure if you are still looking at this sight but I was prescribed gabapentin for anxiety and it ruined my life in every way.. I had all the side effects and had to give up work and couldn’t live alone in my brand new flat .. My GP said it was all I my head and my sister is a GP and even she has never heard of the horrendous things this drug did to me.. I weaned off over a few weeks and it was more than awful in fact I wonder how I am still here… i have been off now for 29 days and some things have got better slightly in that my vision is nearly normal but still blurred at times … The hot flashes and fever from hell has lessened and I can now just about catch a thought in my head .. But the burning on my left arm that started on my taper and in my hair has now progressed to my feet with terrible stiff toes shooting pains and terrible cramps that are with me all day… I am scared to death that this drug has given me permanent nerve damage and nobody is listening … And there is no way in hell I will ever go on another drug.. So I am left scared hopeless with no hope for the future … I barely get through a day… And am scared of the horrible thoughts that go through my head… I have gone from a confident positive determined woman .. To a complete wreck … Is there any hope that the damage to my body and mind will reverse itself because if not .. I don’t see a way… Especially the all over burning stabbing pains and itching I get no peace … Anything anyone can give me as a glimmer of hope I would appreciate it … Nobody is listening x
Ginny
Hi, I am wondering if you live in the USA? Why is it taking so long to get an MRI? I live in a southern state in the USA and we have MRIs scheduled and report forwarded to our doctor within a week.
I have Peripheral Neuropathy in both feet making it unbearable to walk or stand for any length of time. Night time seems the worst.
I am on Gabapentin and I have been having terrible balance problems, for which I am in therapy. I have been having hair loss and have gained over 25 lbs in the last six months. I never realized that this medication could be the cause of my problems until I found this forum.
This has been very helpful. I plan to contact my doctor Monday about trying something else.
I have tried Cymbalta and had terrible sweats both day and night.
I am trying to find out what else is out there.
Thanks,
Stephanie S.
I took Gabapentin @ 300 mg. at night for about 2 years. Initially, the Dr. prescribed it for all-over nerve pain which seems to be associated with severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Addison’s Disease, both of which I’ve had for over 10 years. At first, it helped somewhat with the pain, somewhat with the tremors I experience and also greatly helped sleep. HOWEVER, over time I noticed that I was getting more and more nauseated, developed head psoriasis, blurred vision and jerky eye-movements, dizziness and increased gastro intestinal pain, which seemed to be neurologically motivated, not necessarily from anything I ate and greatly increased muscle weakness. I tapered off the Neurontin over months, discontinuing about 50 mg. every 3-4 weeks.
I’m 40 days off it completely and I’m MISERABLE!! I’m nauseated almost 24/7 with greatly increased tremors and electrical brain/body ‘zapping’ continuously. I’m determined NOT to go back on the drug, but I have no idea how long this withdrawal is going to last or if any of these symptoms will truly improve over time. I read on one site that ‘generally’ some folks had severe withdrawal about a month for each year they were on Gabapentin. I wish I’d NEVER, NEVER taken this drug. A few years ago I had an almost similar reaction to taking LUNESTA every night for months. Now I’ve realized that they both affect GABA in the body, so lessons learned….the hard way….
djd
I am really getting frustrated! I have mentioned over and over again that I actually got peripheral neuropathy from taking Gabapentin and now people tell me that is why they take it! I am not a diabetic and I did not have numbness in my feet or elsewhere. I did not take any other meds or vitamins and had a healthy diet. I still feel this is a dangerous drug for certain people and I will always believe so.
djd
Ruth L.
@Larry– I am also on gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Yes, it is caused (well, one of the causes, anyway) by diabetic nerve damage. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 36 years, and my neuropathic pain is very well controlled with a relatively low dose of 300mg gabapentin each evening. I have never had any of the listed “possible side effects”, at least none of the bad ones like seizure or suicidal thoughts. I have had excellent success with this med.
Camille
My concern is exactly the same as yours but I’m having awful hair loss too!! I can see no difference in my foot numbness but I wonder if its keeping it from getting worse! Especially experience this upon retiring at night.
Anonymous in CO
I started Gabapentin recently, a low dose of 1-3 capsules per night (100 mg). I’ve found that 200 mg. is helping me sleep better than I’ve slept in months! I’m taking it for RLS and it has stopped the leg cramping. Another surprising benefit is I’m waking up with no joint pain in my fingers, and they were aching for years. I will have to see about down-the-road effects, but I’m pleased that a low dose is helping.
Chelle
First, I want to thank all of you for posting your comments, and experiences with this medication. What on earth did we do before computers??!! LOL!
I have just been prescribed Gabapentin as a trial drug while awaiting an MRI…(which sadly will be months before I get in…ugh). I’ve been having some major medical issues over the past 2 years, from unexplained kidney failure, chronic pain in my stomach and back, persistent vertigo, numbness tingling and burning in hands and feet and a change of vision in my left eye. Also I have ZERO vitamin D and will be starting high dose injections to try and build it back up. All signs are pointing to MS but so far some small tests are showing nothing. And until the MRI we’re going to be in the dark. So instead of doing nothing, the Doctor thought trying this medicine might be worth a shot. At this point in time, I’m willing to try anything.
I’m only going to be on a very small dose to start…100mg 3 times a day. I am hoping that this will keep the side effects to a minimum. We’ll see how it goes, and if it offers any relief.
I appreciate everyone taking the time to post on here, and will continue to come back to read future comments on how everyone is doing on this medication. I’ll post an update in a while about how it is working for me.
Take care all…xx
max
I have been on neurontin for 2 months now only 300mg at night daily before bed. I thought this was non addictive as it does nothing for me except keep my els at bay and help me sleep but if I forget to take it, I wake up 2 hours later and can’t sleep all night. Also I get extreme rage from not being able to sleep. Is such a low dose of this really addictive? I’m gonna throw it out today and maybe go with liquor until my sleep returns.
LaShun
I just started taking Gabapentin, I am on Dialysis and was doing some research on what the side effects was. (there are many) I am taking it because I have gasses that build up and make me sick, I am unable to keep any food down so far so good with this medication. As I stated I just started about a few weeks ago. Well I hope the ones who had not so good exp with it get better or find another medication, And I will keep you posted….:-)
SS
hiya.. I have cervical disc bulge for 8 months now with nerve compression. I’ve been on gabapentin since, now on 1800 a day.. 3 x 600 shots. It doesn’t kill my pain, takes the edge of it.. so now on lyrica 150 a day, slowly increasing.. I have got used to the sleepiness, no energy, it has taken a lot of time to get to a “normal” state! but am not safe to drive even now. it has decently slowed down my thought processing, coordination.. and with the pain and side effects from the drugs, has definitely changed my life.. not for the good.. am putting my faith with my neurologist that they will find something that works..hopefully that doesn’t include any more meds!! take care
Jeff
I had such a hard time starting on gabapentin. It literally took me three months before I could take the full thing!
Debbie
Dear Cappy,
I have had peripheral neuropathy as a result of developing reflex sympathertic dystropy after rupturing 2 discs in my neck and damaging my spinal cord approx 15 months ago. Do I understand you correctly that it only took 30 days of vitamin therapy for you to experience full remission of your symptoms? Would you be willing to provide me with the strengths of the Vit D and ALA that you were taking? I have been taking GABA for a while and tried other meds, but just keep having terrible side effects, so I have to stop the drug.
I want to get off all medications asap. Also, why the “cherry capsules” – do they help with pain? Thanks so much for your help and for sharing your success. I am so glad you are pain free.
Cappy
I was put on Gabapentin for neuropathic pain and it did absolutely nothing to help. In fact, this medication made my head feel funny. I would take it in the evening before bedtime, and then wake up in the morning feeling like I was out all night boozing it up! Bad ju ju. I quit taking Gabapentin after trying it out for a month, and then began researching alternative, more natural methods to help with neuropathic pain.
Eventually I started taking tart cherry capsules (two a day), alpha lipoic acid capsules, and Vitamin D along with Vitamin B complex (all one each a day), and have been following this regimen for the last seven months. Do note that I ensured the Vitamins and supplements were top quality as well. I’m now pain free and am not suffering any side affects whatsoever. It took about a month before I experienced these results, and I’m sure happy to have found something that actually works for me.
Baez
Migraines several times a month for 27 years. Started taking gabapentin (neurologist prescribed) 2 months ago 600 mg at bedtime. Migraines are better, sleep is great but I have noticed joint dryness (popping, bone on bone grinding sounds) in knees, shoulders, ankles and neck. Twice in the past week I have woken in the middle of the night. I get up to go to the bathroom and found the vision in my left eye (lower half) blind. Any idea if these issues will subside once I get off the gabapentin?
KD
Finding all your info helpful. I had a disc extrusion and nerve compression, resulting in neuropathic pain. Pain control was good on Amitryptilline but side effects ( dry mouth, constipation, excess sweating) were too much so just weaned myself off with GPs support. Started Gabapentin today, 300mg at breakfast but within 3 hours I was dizzy and unsteady on my feet. Can side effects start so quickly? Or could it be due to something else? I want an effective pain killer but need to be functional and able to drive. Can side effects be so severe ?
Joy
Hi, I`m new to gabapentin too for neuropathic pain. My pain`s in my side, back and groin and was diagnosed by a pain specialist as unexplained neuropathic pain, after tests and scans showed clear.
I`m on day 8 of taking it at 3×300 per day.
Back to day 3, I began to feel some pain relief and day 4 was great with barely any pain. Then yesterday the pain kicked in with a vengeance again.
So last night I took an extra pill, leaving me like a blithering idiot today.
I`m wondering too if I can cope with these side effects, which have ranged from confusion, dizziness, headache, cold symptoms and now back to horrible confusion again!
I don`t like what we`re hearing about this drug either, but I suppose we`ve got to weigh up the pain relief v the side effects and hope our doctors know what`s best?
I`m hanging in there, hoping the side effects will pass and eventually with pain relief my body will mend.
As we`re both new users, I`d really like to compare how we`re doing.
And good luck.
j.m.
I have started using gabapentin for neuropathic pain which was feeling unbearable especially at night time – in my buttocks at first but now spreading to sides and feet. I have not taken the full dose recommended as I am already feeling so soporific I can hardly function – as well as hungry and a bit dizzy and dry mouthed – and I have responsibilities in my life. I am thinking of giving it up – but I don’t know any other way to control the pain which has been getting progressively worse – it started after an op. and just spread. it is hard to know what to do – I don’t like what I hear about this drug. there must be an alternative??!
When I say pain, it is not really pain as such, but a high level of discomfort as if all nerves are jangling and ‘noisy’ – stops me sleeping, like cramp, a bit.
Chris
I was diagnosed with idiopathic neuropathy in both feet and lower legs nearly 2 years a ago after having a gradual increase in numbness, tingling and burning pain for about 2 years prior. Prior to going to the doctor, I could only walk about 20 minutes before the burning was too severe. I am now on 2100 mgs of Gabapentin and 60 mg of Cymbalta. I take 900mg and the Cymbalta at night and sleep real well. I also have a compound pain cream and 25mg hydrocodone/acetemanphin to use when I am going to be on my feet a lot. I am back on the treadmill running, but I use the cream before or after for the pain. I have some side effects. Tiredness and forgetfulness. I have gained 20+ pounds in the time I’ve been on Gabapentin. Dieting and exercise doesn’t help me lose any weight.
Dee
Migraines have been considered headaches, but are actually a seizure and Gabapentin eliminated migraines for me. I had severe migraines several days a month, sometimes lasting for 4 to 5 days. Nothing helped, even when I went to the ER with migraine and I was given so much pain medication, I couldn’t walk without strong assistance, the migraine aura was still there, pain was lessened, but not gone.
With Gabapentin, I feel 100% better, am migraine free for several years now (40 years of migraines), and my quality of life is so much better. I still get an occasional headache, very mild, but nothing like a migraine that left me unable to function at all. Different medications work for different people. And health food store GABA is not even close because I tried it.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: Indeed, GABA is not the same compound as gabapentin at all.
Barbara F.
Barbara F
I have been on gabapentin for a yr. or more for my trygeninal neuralgia. The pain was so bad in the left side of my face. If anyone has had this it is the worst thing you can have happen to you. It has after a year controlled it mostly. I seldom get shocks in my face now but it does concern me will I have to take this for the rest of my life. The only alternative is have surgery which means going in to my head. thank god for gabapentin.
Oldriska
I was taking Neurontin 900mg/day for atypical trigeminal neuralgia for 1.5 months. I was tired all the time, depressed most of the time, it didn’t help my pain, the only good thing was that I slept throughout the night. Now I’m switched to Lyrica, starting dosage at 75 mg/day, and overall I feel better except I don’t really sleep much at night (have loads of dreams though on Lyrica!). Everyone of us is different, it takes time and searching to find the “silver bullet”.
Jodi Z.
Dear DJ,
I just want to say that being 61 years old has nothing to do with medications working on you or not. Age is irrelevant. Nerve pain is a mystery. Doctors do what they can but it’s all hit or miss. As far as your feet pain goes, have you tried laser therapy? My mom uses it for you feet neuropathy.
You can also try acupuncture and Vitamin B complex. I have neuropathy in my thigh. It’s been over a year that I’ve been on Gabipentin. My hair is falling out, too. I can’t stop taking the meds, though, because the pain is too severe. I’m looking for other med options and was recently told about Lyrica, Amiltriptoline or Nortriptoline. All the meds have side effects, of course, and you have to find the ones that are tolerable for you. I also tried Cymbalta but to no avail. It’s been very frustrating and depressing and now I face the fear of losing all my hair. It’s already so thin it barely curls anymore.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that you’re not old! And that your age has nothing to do with meds working or not. This kind of pain is just hard to treat.
DJ
To Kate M: I have responded on this subject before about the effects
of Gabapentin but only reported the permanent neuropathy and the
horrible psoriasis outbreak. You mentioned weight gain and hair
loss on both the Elavil and Gabapentin. I also gained weight and
even though I don’t eat much, I have not been able to take it off
due to the problems with my feet–less exercise (but I try and do
what I can, including housework, gardening, etc). Also, I had
forgotten about the hair loss. My husband was finding it all over
the house, on his clothes, in bed etc. It was thinning so much,
I really thought I would go bald! After stopping Gabapentin, my
hair has filled in some.
Anyway, I applaud you for cutting this medicine out. They say
that you know your own body and if these side effects affect your
life, then you have the right to stop taking them. I still feel Gabapentin should not be used for anything other than the original
intention–anti-seizure medication.
Good luck.
DJ
P.S. I am 61 yrs old and perhaps certain meds just don’t work
for me.
Ginny K
I’ve been taking Gabapentin for about 8 years. I’ve been taking it for what I was diagnosed with “Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy”. I’m not diabetic. I’m curious as to why my so called condition is no less or greater than it was when I was diagnosed with it. I’m wanting to know if anyone else has the same problem and what they do about it. All this talk about the side effects that others have with Gabapentin, is scaring me.
Kate M
Elavil was prescribed with indocin for non-existent migraines,
the combination caused a 40# weight gain and 75% hair loss in 4 months. I was
recently given Gabapentin for Shingles pain. It cause the same problems. I
no longer take any drugs but aspirin, Donnatal, and vitamins.
Paul 43
I would like to hear more about this as I too take Gabapentin.
CM
I take 1200 mg gabapentin/day for post herpetic neuro. I have taken this for over 4 years since I had shingles. I’ve tried many things acupuncture, meditation, etc. Nothing has helped. What else can one do for this?
Chas
I used to use Neurontin, then Gabapentin when it became generic. It made me drowsy during the day, but otherwise was effective in reducing my sciatica and neuropathy pain. My doctor transitioned me to Lyrica about two years after it came out. Lyrica does not produce daytime drowsiness, it is a bit more effective in reducing pain and I have responded to it very well. Of course, it is much more expensive than generic Gabapentin, but I think Lyrica will go off patent in 2014.
Anne C.
I was prescribed gaba for restless leg. I take 300mg at about 6pm and another about 10pm. My husband says I am sleeping much better now! I have found that if I forget the 6pm dose I have trouble falling asleep. I also found that cutting way back on caffeine helped a lot. I have tried to quit but could not handle being up all night. So for now I will cont taking.
Sally
I was rx’d Gabapentin for nerve pain in my left arm/shoulder area after breast cancer tx. Although it did help the nerve pain, within 3 weeks, I had a terrible skin rash on my legs and arms. The MD took me off of Gaba but it took more than three months for the rash to disappear…miserable time!
Helen M.
I weaned off 2600mg of gaba about 15 or more years ago because it was no longer helping my neuropathy. The process is slow, reducing by 300mg every week or two, you must be patient. Prescribing this for sleep problems, as mentioned, is very off label!!!!!!
Unfortunately, as my neuropathy worsened, I needed help. Tried gaba again to no avail, went on lyrica. This too carries a boatload of side effects, but, in my case, it keeps the burning down to a bearable level and allows me to sleep at night. When I first started it, 100mg, taking a dose meant an involuntary nap about 15 minutes later. I just loved it! That effect is gone, I have others. Tho I would love to discontinue it, thus far the benefit outweighs all the side effects.
DJ
I have responded to the use of Gabapentin before and how it totally affected
my quality of life now. Originally, I complained of severe pain in my feet
and I couldn’t sleep. I went to a low-cost clinic and they said this was
a non-narcotic and should be helpful.
In a very short period of time, I
had numbness in my feet and because I have psoriasis (I do not believe this
drug should be given to people with this condition!) the reaction was intense. It spread all over my body. I also had the fluid accumulation in
my feet (and still do even after stopping the drug), constipation, coordina-
tion problems, and tremors, and intense joint pain and stiffness.
I feel like everything has fallen on deaf ears. I just want someone to know
that there could be a very severe problem with this medication. I am
permanently disabled with peripheral neuropathy (I am not a diabetic). Also,
I took no other drugs or vitamins at the time I took this. The swelling in
my feet goes down at night but gets very bad during the day, sitting or
standing.
I am a person who is scared of pharmaceuticals but sure wish I could take
something to ease the pain and help the swelling.
If I could be of help to someone else, it would be a relief.
dj
Dr. Judi
There are those people who are not helped by any of the conventional sleeping medicines. Many are helped by a very old anti-depressant, Elavil® (amitryptiline) taken at bedtime. Its side effect is sleepiness, and it has helped many of my patients who were not at all depressed.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
Dear Dr. Judi,
We are well aware that many physicians prescribe amitriptyline at bedtime for older people to help them fall asleep. It is a very sedating drug, so it is no wonder that it would help people with insomnia get to sleep.
There are some serious problems with amitriptyline, however. The drug has a great deal of anti-cholinergic activity. That means it could easily affect cognitive function in an older person, making that individual sluggish mentally…or worse. Amitriptyline is on the BEERS list of no-no drugs for older people. We would suggest that you might want to read our chapter on drugs and older people in our book, Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them:
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/topscrewups-pp/
Sometimes solving one problem (insomnia) could lead to an even worse complication…forgetfulness and mental confusion.
DH
Gabapentin caused me to loose perspective when I drove or walked. I took only 100 mill. pill a day (low dosage) for 3 weeks and realized I was in trouble
when I smashed up over a curb on a street that I had driven many times…that and other weird feelings…so I stopped suddenly and had no ill effects with the stopping, and begin to get my life back.
I have a friend who gets along fine and has a better quality of life taking it but not for me.!!
S.G.
I have been taking 400 mg. of gabapentin at bedtime for years for anxiety and unexpectedly found it also to be a very effective treatment for my lifelong insomnia, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome, which disappeared completely once I started taking it. I had to stop daytime doses because of sleepiness and lethargy but continued taking it once daily, at bedtime. It helps me to fall asleep and fall back to sleep if I am awakened during the night.
I had tried behavioral treatments and relaxation techniques, as well as over-the-counter sleep aids, but nothing worked. I also follow a bedtime routine to unwind of reading the newspaper or a magazine under a dim incandecent lamp while stretched out in bed. Occasionally, I will still be wide awake at 2 a.m. and get up to check my pillbox. Sure enough, I’ve forgotten to take my gabapentin. The small dose I take at bedtime has greatly improved my quality of life.
Jan S.
I have neuropathy and have taken Neurontin, then Gabapentan for many years. I do not take over 900 mg a day, though. If I forget to take it at a meal, my feet are just ablaze and there is nausea. I also take 50 mg. of Ultram generic twice a day for pain. At night, .25 mg of Xanax that does help me sleep. I do have terrible coordination, hand tremor and imbalance but never Was well coordinated. I feel this medicine has helped me a great deal.
pam
Why take a drug, Gabapentin, to stimulate the production of GABA in the brain when GABA is available as a supplement in health food stores? Granted, it lacks FDA approval, but it has been recommended as a natural sleep aid.
Has The People’s Pharmacy looked into this supplement and recommended dosage?
Larry P
I have been on this med. (Gabapetin) for many years for poly peripheral neuropathy in both legs. I take appx. 3600 mgs a day for the pain in my legs and feet.I do have controlled blood pressure and am on heart meds also. I take hydrocordone acet. also for the pain. When I get an attack in my legs and feet it feels like a stun gun on both legs, almost unbearable. They say it is caused from diabetes, is this correct?