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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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skip | @skipneuroathy | Jun 14 12:21pm

Yes it did. With my Doc's directions, I gradually decreased the dosage until I did not take any more.
I have not had this vision problem return. Keep in mind that not everyone has this reaction.

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1 reply
mghee | @mghee | Jun 19 12:35pm

I take 300mg of gabapentin in the morning and 600mg at night.
I’m tired but I think it’s because I don’t sleep at night, because of discomfort. (I have neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and restless legs.)
I walk the floor until the sensations and pain calm down.
I’m sure my tiredness is from lack of sleep.
The medication does cause me to feel like “I’m on the outside looking in.). It also effects my speech and my balance.

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1 reply
mghee | @mghee | Jun 19 12:40pm
In reply to @ripley "How did you wean down from 300mg 3x a day? I was just prescribed 100mg 3x..." + (show)
@ripley

How did you wean down from 300mg 3x a day? I was just prescribed 100mg 3x a day for fibromyalgia. I don't know if that dose is high enough to make a difference in my pain. But I wondered how to wean off this dose if I decide to. thanks.

Jump to this post

Don’t do it cold turkey! Go off gradually.

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1 reply
pinkmoon61 | @pinkmoon61 | Aug 20 11:10pm
In reply to @watercolor8 "Is there anyone that has found relief from Akathisia through Mayo Clinic? I've never been on..." + (show)
@watercolor8

Is there anyone that has found relief from Akathisia through Mayo Clinic? I've never been on an antipsychotic. I suffer with the terrifying, brain crushing anguuish of Akathisia daily. I'm curious if any of the meds I'm on are making it worse. My family wants me to investigate going to Mayo Clinic.

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If I were you I will Google every medication asking the question does for example does gabapentin induce akathisia because from another support group that I am in the only form of healing would be to be off medication so that the brain and body nervous system can heal

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charliesophiedaisyro | @charliesophiedaisyro | Aug 27 9:05am

I have been on Gabapentin for over 15 years--600mg per day morning dosage only. I have trigeminal neuralgia from being rear ended in a car accident. Yes, at almost 75 I am very tired. I also take Cymbalta. I also now have sciatica. Very painful.

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pinkmoon61 | @pinkmoon61 | Aug 29 11:15pm
In reply to @mghee "I take 300mg of gabapentin in the morning and 600mg at night. I’m tired but I..." + (show)
@mghee

I take 300mg of gabapentin in the morning and 600mg at night.
I’m tired but I think it’s because I don’t sleep at night, because of discomfort. (I have neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and restless legs.)
I walk the floor until the sensations and pain calm down.
I’m sure my tiredness is from lack of sleep.
The medication does cause me to feel like “I’m on the outside looking in.). It also effects my speech and my balance.

Jump to this post

That sounds like AKATHISIA you should Google it.

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pinkmoon61 | @pinkmoon61 | Aug 29 11:17pm
In reply to @mghee "Don’t do it cold turkey! Go off gradually." + (show)
@mghee

Don’t do it cold turkey! Go off gradually.

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YOU HAVE TO TAPER DOWN SUPER SLOW...YOU SHOULD JOIN ON FACEBOOK A SUPPORT GROUP & READ ALL THE WITHDRAW EXPERIENCE FROM PEOPLE

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irr4et | @irr4et | Sep 3 10:21am

I have been on the second generation of Gabapentin which is Lyrica (for Fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. I have Central Pain Sundrome) for 12 yrs. I’m 73 and now having the side effects Lyrica usually causes in seniors- face, hand and lower leg swelling, some dizziness, plus it triggers pain now for 1.5 hrs before it begins to lower my Central Pain Syndrome nerve pain. Getting off of it is a long hellish experience in a rehab facility (plus what do u do for nerve pain instead of Lyrica), I read and I’m already worn out from having Fibro (that progressed to Central Pain Syndrome), for 23 yrs. I’m allergic to opioids so no help there. I’m on Medical Cannabis but with severe pain, ppl have to take a strong dose ev 6 hrs which means couch time and not operating anything mechanical or making any important decisions. Seems there’s no path to functionality for me. Just a couch potato with insomnia from missing sleep at night due to migraines and body pain. Would appreciate any suggestions.

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1kay2 | @1kay2 | Sep 3 4:51pm
In reply to @skipneuroathy "Yes it did. With my Doc's directions, I gradually decreased the dosage until I did not..." + (show)
@skipneuroathy

Yes it did. With my Doc's directions, I gradually decreased the dosage until I did not take any more.
I have not had this vision problem return. Keep in mind that not everyone has this reaction.

Jump to this post

Very smart to stop gabapentin. My daughter told me to take it fibromyalgia because her neighbour was on it. My doctors said no. I looked it up and immediately knew I couldn't because of the side effects. With me it's less drugs not more always.
god bless you.

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 4 12:22am

@1kay2
I agree when it comes to medication, less is best. You mentioned "With me it's less drugs not more always." Your fortunate you can choose. We don't all have that luxury. I'm curious why you doctors said no. You also mentioned "I looked it up and immediately knew I couldn't because of the side effects." The list are POTENTIAL side effects. Are you sensitive to medicines?
Jake

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