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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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mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | 1 day ago

I've been taking 3600 mg of gabapentin daily for a few years now to try to dull the nerve pain in my feet after being diagnosed with Idiopathic Poly Neuropathy. I've seen several neurologists and 2 neurosurgeons over the course of the past 12 years. They've tested me for literally everything possible as the cause, and everything came back "normal". Am I'm not diabetic.

I was forced to retire in 2015, and walk away from my job after almost 17 years at the age of 56. I've been on permanent disability since the beginning of 2016. I also have extensive osteoarthritis in my knees, hips, lower back, neck, and right elbow. My life has been nothing but numbness and pain ever since, and I've contemplated killing myself on a couple of occasions.

I've wondered what some of the side effects would/could be from such a high dosage of Gabapentin, but I'm currently taking 9 different prescription drugs for depression, pain, gout prevention, leg swelling, and blood pressure. So determining what the side effects are out the window at the moment.

REPLY
sundancerdb78 | @sundancerdb78 | 1 day ago

It's me back again from 5 years ago! Have BAD Naprapathy now. My orthopedic doctor suggested it. Tried it again after 5 years!
STILL DOES NOT WORK!
SUNDANCE aka RB

REPLY
1 reply
bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | 1 day ago
In reply to @sundancerdb78 "It's me back again from 5 years ago! Have BAD Naprapathy now. My orthopedic doctor suggested..." + (show)
@sundancerdb78

It's me back again from 5 years ago! Have BAD Naprapathy now. My orthopedic doctor suggested it. Tried it again after 5 years!
STILL DOES NOT WORK!
SUNDANCE aka RB

Jump to this post

Try PreGabalin.

REPLY
ksdm | @ksdm | 1 day ago
In reply to @ratties1 "Hi, I've been on gabapentin now for just over a year for idiopathic nerve pain. I..." + (show)
@ratties1

Hi,
I've been on gabapentin now for just over a year for idiopathic nerve pain. I initally went from 300mg to 1800mg. At 1800mg per day I experienced severe memory problems and brain fog. I reduced back down to 900mg pr day( 3 doses of 300mg) now with no significant side effects. I'm now trying to reduce the dose by 100mg every 2 weeks to see how much is now necessary.
It helped some of my nerve pain but not completely. I still have internal vibrations which are vey disturbing esp if I wake at night.
It's really good to hear from everyone as this feels like a very lonely place to be. Always guessing what dose, what are the side effects and are they worth the reduction of the pain?

Jump to this post

What are the internal vibrations caused by? I think I have had that feeling once or twice. Very strange feeling.....I didn't know how to describe it, so never mentioned it.

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1 reply
ratties1 | @ratties1 | 20 hours ago
In reply to @ksdm "What are the internal vibrations caused by? I think I have had that feeling once or..." + (show)
@ksdm

What are the internal vibrations caused by? I think I have had that feeling once or twice. Very strange feeling.....I didn't know how to describe it, so never mentioned it.

Jump to this post

Hi
I’m not sure what causes them but I’ve read they’re not dangerous. You’re right, they are very hard to describe. Like your insides are noisy and you’re on a massage chair that vibrates. Not pleasant. They come and go. I’ve found a heat pack on my stomach helps.

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1 reply
ksdm | @ksdm | 17 hours ago
In reply to @ratties1 "Hi I’m not sure what causes them but I’ve read they’re not dangerous. You’re right, they..." + (show)
@ratties1

Hi
I’m not sure what causes them but I’ve read they’re not dangerous. You’re right, they are very hard to describe. Like your insides are noisy and you’re on a massage chair that vibrates. Not pleasant. They come and go. I’ve found a heat pack on my stomach helps.

Jump to this post

Thanks! I thought I was the only one getting these funny little spells. Not often, but once in a while. Nothing hurts. Maybe someone knows what they are all about.

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bgator | @bgator | 6 hours ago

I have been taking 1100 mg of Gabapentin for Neuropathy.
I am tired most of the day, it’s very hard. Don’t know what help if any this medicine is really helping me.
Without it does make a difference but if anything it just mildly holds off the pain for a brief time.
I have an appointment with a pain clinic next month. I also take Hydrocodone also 3 times a day.
Neuropathy is a horrible way to spend your later years.
Good luck to everyone.

REPLY
2 replies
sarvers2000 | @sarvers2000 | 5 hours ago
In reply to @ratties1 "Hi, I've been on gabapentin now for just over a year for idiopathic nerve pain. I..." + (show)
@ratties1

Hi,
I've been on gabapentin now for just over a year for idiopathic nerve pain. I initally went from 300mg to 1800mg. At 1800mg per day I experienced severe memory problems and brain fog. I reduced back down to 900mg pr day( 3 doses of 300mg) now with no significant side effects. I'm now trying to reduce the dose by 100mg every 2 weeks to see how much is now necessary.
It helped some of my nerve pain but not completely. I still have internal vibrations which are vey disturbing esp if I wake at night.
It's really good to hear from everyone as this feels like a very lonely place to be. Always guessing what dose, what are the side effects and are they worth the reduction of the pain?

Jump to this post

I’m on 2800 mg per day and have had nerve pain relief. I also take it for seizures. I find spacing the medication out for a longer day helps (800, 800, 400(7pm) and 800 at 10pm).

REPLY
1 reply
sarvers2000 | @sarvers2000 | 5 hours ago
In reply to @bgator "I have been taking 1100 mg of Gabapentin for Neuropathy. I am tired most of the..." + (show)
@bgator

I have been taking 1100 mg of Gabapentin for Neuropathy.
I am tired most of the day, it’s very hard. Don’t know what help if any this medicine is really helping me.
Without it does make a difference but if anything it just mildly holds off the pain for a brief time.
I have an appointment with a pain clinic next month. I also take Hydrocodone also 3 times a day.
Neuropathy is a horrible way to spend your later years.
Good luck to everyone.

Jump to this post

Going through what you are too. Long day w pain often. 4 hours seems to be max relief but hey at least it’s relief (Gabopentin)

REPLY
mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | 29 minutes ago
In reply to @bgator "I have been taking 1100 mg of Gabapentin for Neuropathy. I am tired most of the..." + (show)
@bgator

I have been taking 1100 mg of Gabapentin for Neuropathy.
I am tired most of the day, it’s very hard. Don’t know what help if any this medicine is really helping me.
Without it does make a difference but if anything it just mildly holds off the pain for a brief time.
I have an appointment with a pain clinic next month. I also take Hydrocodone also 3 times a day.
Neuropathy is a horrible way to spend your later years.
Good luck to everyone.

Jump to this post

I agree 1000%, Neuropathy, especially in our later years is horrible. I'm taking the maximum dosage that my doctor will prescribe, 3600mg a day, and all it does is dull the nerve pain in my feet, at best.
I haven't had a pain free day or night in over a decade, and it's really starting to wear me down.
All I can offer is hang in there.

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