How long do you take Gabapentin?

I’m trying to reply with as much support and sensitivity as possible. I’ve had constant severe pain since 1978, and it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that Neurontin became a drug of choice for chronic pain. My result was horrible… fatigue, confusion, loss of libido… but I KEPT A JOURNAL and used it for 6 months. Then I got with my Dr and TOGETHER we decided „not for me“. I can’t overstate how dangerous it seems to self-medicate and self-dose. I know the long nights and hopelessness, the effect on family and jobs, etc., that chronic severe pain can imply. I hope that you can find a way to team with your doctors and other professionals to have the best outcome. Keeping and sharing a journal is a start. Good luck.

I’m trying to reply with as much support and sensitivity as possible. I’ve had constant severe pain since 1978, and it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that Neurontin became a drug of choice for chronic pain. My result was horrible… fatigue, confusion, loss of libido… but I KEPT A JOURNAL and used it for 6 months. Then I got with my Dr and TOGETHER we decided „not for me“. I can’t overstate how dangerous it seems to self-medicate and self-dose. I know the long nights and hopelessness, the effect on family and jobs, etc., that chronic severe pain can imply. I hope that you can find a way to team with your doctors and other professionals to have the best outcome. Keeping and sharing a journal is a start. Good luck.

I should have been a little more clear when I said I changed my meds on my own. My first gabapentin prescription for the high dose was prescribed by a pain management doctor. That’s the dosage that I found too high for me personally and not helpful. At that point, after several medications and procedures that were not helping, I stopped seeing a pain management doctor. I now do manual therapy for my back and have done so for almost 3 months. I will wait this out and see what the result is. It is my GP, who now handles all of my medication, who supported my gabapentin use for the neuropathy along with the change in dosage and ‘as needed’ frequency. I sometimes find what works for me for a day or two (so I did do it on my own, but not entirely and never with a serious med like blood pressure or statin) and then I either call my doctor or see him. Thankfully, I’m able to do this easily and he has been a great support whether he calls me personally at the end of his day or I go in. He’s not old, but he still reminds me of a Marcus Welby kind of guy (If you’re old enough to know who that is) I’ve been seeing him for a long time and together we make definitive changes. I wouldn’t make a permanent change without his approval. I also keep a journal from the time I wake up until I head to bed. I have dosages and side effects… Anything I can think of to help him help me. Your comments are spot on. I should have further explained my actions and thought process. I also should not have encouraged the changing of a medication entirely on your own. Mine is a very personal and individual situation. Thank you for pointing that out.

My experience with Gabapentin has been very good for chronic pain. I take 300 mg twice daily. She ordered 3 times daily. I would love to get off it at some point but my arthritis pain only gets worse

I took some steroid pills for horrible back pain that were 15-20 years old and they worked until I could see my doctor.

We need to row with the flow! 82 isn't bad. My mother in law was still living alone at the age of 93 when she fell and broke her hip emptying the garbage. She lived to be almost 101.

I believe that medication starts losing its potency the older it gets. But with that said I have taken Tylenol and other things after expiration dates and they do work. A pharmacist can answer your question about potency. However.....you need to see your doctor. Did you wean off it like every other day as Gabapentin must be weaned down to avoid side effects. I take 900mg at bedtime. If Your Dr. put you on it did you let them know you wanted to stop taking it because yes, your symptoms can come back as Gabapentin addresses nerve pain. I use it for sciatic pain when my piriformis muscle acts up and gets inflamed and then sits on the sciatic nerve. Gabapentin cannot be just stopped and must be weaned down. I don't know why your Dr. put you on it but please give them a call or send a message to them if you are able so they can address the issue.

There is some serious longevity in my family also. I’m just bummed I’m having problems early by comparison to my mom. Stay well and keep rowing!!❤️