1. < Chronic Pain

Gabapentin side effects?

Posted by Sundance(RB) @sundance6, Apr 13, 2019

I am a regular on the Mayo Board! I don't know what I would do without it! Our doctors don't want to discuss openly the things about illnesses and side effets of drugs and other things. Anyway, my question to all of you is Gabapentin and it's side effects. I have been on it now for 6 months. My doctor raised me from 100mg. to now I am on 400mg. three times a day.
The problem is my tiredness! I happen to be in a friends office yesterday and she was taking some medicine. She said she was taking Gabapentin. I asked why and she said she had, had shingles back when and it still helped with the pain. I know the drug is percribed for many things that is why I take it for my issues.
I told her I had been taking it for about 6 months. She asked if I had been tired all the time, just out of the Blue. OF COURSE I SAID YES! She said it took her a year before she got out of the tiredness.
Let me know if any of you have experienced the same thing. Also let me know at what dosage you may be on? I know this is all confidential!
Again Thanks to The Mayo Clinic and Everyone who is kind enough to be open with their lives!
Sundance!

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sbrown293 | @sbrown293 | May 9 9:57pm
In reply to @wmsemperfi "I have taken both Gabapentin and Lyrica. The Gabapentin made me incredibly sleepy all the time...." + (show)
@wmsemperfi

I have taken both Gabapentin and Lyrica. The Gabapentin made me incredibly sleepy all the time. I had to change back to Lyrica in order to prevent falling asleep at work or while driving, the side effect was THAT acute. I never felt sleepy while taking Lyrica, but insurance companies don’t want to cover it, because it’s much more expensive than Gabapentin. It can be done, it just takes time, perseverance and paperwork. For anyone experiencing tiredness from Gabapentin, I would suggest getting a trial sample of Lyrica and see if it works as well within the side effects. That way you and your doctor do not waste a bunch of time getting an insurance approval for no reason. The co-pay WILL be higher, but the cost of falling asleep at the wheel makes the additional copay amount negligible in comparison.

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Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It is important for others to be able to read your comments.

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 10 7:14am
In reply to @ripley "How did you hear about trying alpha lipoic acid, and how do you know how much..." + (show)
@ripley

How did you hear about trying alpha lipoic acid, and how do you know how much to take? I've heard it can relieve nerve pain. What is your experience with gabapentin -- does it help relieve pain for you and have you had any bad side effects? Thanks.

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@ripley, I take 600 mg alpha Lipoic acid for small fiber neuropathy/nerve pain and it has helped me. I also take 100 mg Gabapentin at night. My new neurologist told me that 100 mg/day is a “candy dose” but I don’t want to take more because I am always fatigued and dizzy during the day and don’t want that to get any worse than it is.

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 10 7:15am

@ripley, I meant to also mention I take Acetyl l carnitine which is supposed to help nerve pain. I do believe it also helps me.

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sandykgraham | @sandykgraham | May 10 11:37am

I've been on Gabapenion for years, large dose, 600 mg , 1.5 tablets 4 times a day. Last August 2023 my internal shaking began. It became severe. I have a pain pump filled with opiods but only the Gabapenion has the internal shaking as a side effect. So I reduced the Gabapenion but the pain continues. I then go back up on the Gabapenion. It's a never ending cycle.

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vvvalsigkap | @vvvalsigkap | May 10 12:40pm
In reply to @wmsemperfi "I have taken both Gabapentin and Lyrica. The Gabapentin made me incredibly sleepy all the time...." + (show)
@wmsemperfi

I have taken both Gabapentin and Lyrica. The Gabapentin made me incredibly sleepy all the time. I had to change back to Lyrica in order to prevent falling asleep at work or while driving, the side effect was THAT acute. I never felt sleepy while taking Lyrica, but insurance companies don’t want to cover it, because it’s much more expensive than Gabapentin. It can be done, it just takes time, perseverance and paperwork. For anyone experiencing tiredness from Gabapentin, I would suggest getting a trial sample of Lyrica and see if it works as well within the side effects. That way you and your doctor do not waste a bunch of time getting an insurance approval for no reason. The co-pay WILL be higher, but the cost of falling asleep at the wheel makes the additional copay amount negligible in comparison.

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I am weaning myself off Gabapentin because it made my balance worse and I was not as clear thinking as before I started it. Almost off it and can already see a difference. Also, I did not notice much improvement in pain which is what it was prescribed for.

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1 reply
lisebeau | @lisebeau | May 11 5:56am
In reply to @vvvalsigkap "I am weaning myself off Gabapentin because it made my balance worse and I was not..." + (show)
@vvvalsigkap

I am weaning myself off Gabapentin because it made my balance worse and I was not as clear thinking as before I started it. Almost off it and can already see a difference. Also, I did not notice much improvement in pain which is what it was prescribed for.

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I have experienced the same thing I would like to come off of it.I take it with a depression med.though recently ive been having pain throughout my whole body.Even my feet hurt alot

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1 reply
sbrown293 | @sbrown293 | May 11 8:55am
In reply to @lisebeau "I have experienced the same thing I would like to come off of it.I take it..." + (show)
@lisebeau

I have experienced the same thing I would like to come off of it.I take it with a depression med.though recently ive been having pain throughout my whole body.Even my feet hurt alot

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Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience. My late husband had so much pain in his feet. I hope you find some relief.

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1 reply
harley22 | @harley22 | May 11 11:43am
In reply to @sbrown293 "Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience. My late husband had so..." + (show)
@sbrown293

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience. My late husband had so much pain in his feet. I hope you find some relief.

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My feet also hurt me so badly at times I can’t even stand on them.
I was on Gabapentin and it didn’t help me at all.

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Lauren Stedman | @laurenstedman | May 11 11:50am

I am trying my best to stay away from Prescription drugs. I don't like the side effects.

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bonwalsh1 | @bonwalsh1 | May 12 12:17am

Hi there,
My name is Bon. I'm new to this site. I've been taking gabapentin for about a year and a half for fibromyalgia. While it helps with my nerve pain, it still makes me tired. I'm on 400mg as well. I am NOT a Dr. But, I find myself skipping doses here and there because I don't want to deal with the fatigue. I asked my Rheumatologist about the fatigue and she said this is one of the only meds she can prescribe. Best of luck, Bon.

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