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Gabapentin side effects?
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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I've been taking Gabapentin 300mg. 3 times a day. Yes, it does cause tiredness. I drink coffee, tea, and diet cola for the caffeine to counteract this. I know that it's probably not the best way, but it allows me to function while getting the pain relief from the Gabapentin.
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1 ReactionHave you gained weight from the 300 mg/3 times a day?
What sort of dr prescribed this dose?
Just my experience
I had to play with dose with drs consent.
The most I have taken is 150mg in morning and before bed.
Even thought was causing side effects i didnt like
I now take 125 mg at night and 50 mg in am
Caffeine not helpful i would think
You want calming tools for your brain… calm music meditation
Relaxation tools walking etc…
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1 ReactionI have taken 300mg Gabapentin for over a year. Definitely helps with pain from Spinal Stenosis. My side affects are mild diarrhea and dizziness. I will keep taking but would prefer not to have to keep taking pills.
I have been on Gabapentin for almost 2 days for Trigeminal Neualgia and, touch wood, the pain in my head, eye, sinus, ear and all up the side of my left side has gone and only half way through my second day! I take 1 tablet in the morning and 1 at night and the dose is 300 mg. I'm hoping I don't gain weight. I am a participant in the Mayo Clinic Diet program losing weight slowly but surely. Kudos to the Mayo Clinic. It is my go to source for everything medical and my doctor, of course, approves of my resource. The doctor in Emergency also approves!! Thank you so much Mayo Clinic all staff!!
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2 ReactionsThe doc prescribed 300 mg 3 times a day, but instead, with doc permission, I started with 100 mg 3 times a day for the trigeminal neuralgia (isn’t that the worst pain ever!). Didn’t like how tired I felt, so went to 100 mg twice a day. Now I take 200 mg at night, period. It’s amazing how that takes care of the trigeminal neuralgia pain! I have not had any weight gain.
I take 100 mg during the day if I need it for the stenosis pain.
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2 ReactionsI've been on gabapentin 300 mg 3X a day for 3 years now, since getting peripheral neuropathy in my feet from chemo.
I have no problems with it making me sleepy. I'm 83 years old.
If I miss the afternoon dose, my feet let me know.
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1 ReactionThank you for your response to my post. It is good to hear that there are other dosages and flexibility for times of use. I have a follow up appointment with the ER doctor and will discuss if I can cut back on my use of Gabapentin. And yes, it is the worst pain ever!! I thought I was having an aneurysm. This has been an ongoing miss-diagnosed problem for over a year but came to a crashing head this past week. Encouraging to read that you didn't gain weight too.
I also take gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy. I take 600mg 3x daily. It does not make me sleepy and I know what you mean when you miss a dose. The burning feeling comes back. They say it’s only good for eight hours. I am 68. I have found taking Alpha Lipoic Acid nightly helps with the cramps in my feet. But if you are on thyroid medication DONT take.
I take ALA too as well as phosphatidyl-serine which helps with memory and is the main ingredient in more expensive memory supplements. Magnesium seems to help the cramps in my legs and I use a heating pad under them at night that stops the cramps.