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NYTimes: Gabapentin - The Painkiller Used for Just About Anything
Neuropathy | Last Active: Sep 1 4:20pm | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
I appreciate you posting the link to this NYT article. I'm fairly new to using this medication and I'm really on the fence. As an aside when I tell people I'm on it, several have exclaimed "Oh, my dog is on that"!
I was initially prescribed 150 mg at bedtime by a Neurologist. I had negative results for peripheral neuropathy on a nerve conduction study. Since my insurance coverage was changing I did not follow through with the skin punch to R/O small fiber neuropathy. The neurologist said regardless the results of the skin punch, the treatment would be the same for my symptoms; i.e. Gabapentin and PT. My new PCP has me up to 300 mg. 3x/day. Initially I slept so much better at night. I struggle with staying asleep. After several months I seem to be back to the restless sleep pattern of waking up every couple of hours. And I have deep, deep aching in my feet and legs which is very uncomfortable. During the day I'm fairly comfortable although if I stop to notice I still have that constant feeling of numbness in my calves and I feel like I'm walking on pebbles. But with distraction it's tolerable and I can takes extended walks. I'm tempted to ask about weaning off Gabapentin and just using Ibuprofen a couple of times a day. Thoughts?
Replies to "I appreciate you posting the link to this NYT article. I'm fairly new to using this..."
I got off Gabapentin after about 6 months. The withdrawal was not bad and only lasted a few hours of increased symptoms before settling down. Gaba is a very old drug. I too was surprised when I had surgery for a broken ankle 2 years ago and they prescribed an opiod AND gabapentin for the pain. Luckily I only had to take it once at bedtime as the anethestic wore off at home. It does make you sleepy. I have tried ALL possible drugs and supplements used for neuropathy, but for me, none work any better than maybe a 10% change in symptoms.
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Hello @pah17 - I am currently on 3x 200mg Gabapentin per day and am exploring whether I can reduce the dose. Like in your case, the nights are most challenging and in my case patches on my feet help. I like the Extended Pain Relief Numbing Patches from TIDL. They have just the right stickiness. I cut one patch in 2 pieces and apply one of the pieces on the bottom of each foot. During the day the Naboso Neuro Insoles are helping me as they overwrite the hyper-sensation caused by my PN. I replace the regular insoles of my sneakers with the neuro insoles. Naboso also offers Foot Recovery Socks which have the same Naboso texture inside the socks as the insole. Per Naboso: "With every step you take our neuro-stimulating texture acts like a mini-massage for your feet enhancing circulation, stimulating nerves and releasing muscles and fascia."