What are the side effects of gabapentin?

I hurt both of my hips in a freak accident. I am 74 and still working a very physical job. I started developing horrible sharp pains and cramping in my legs and feet, I believe due to the accident. My doctor put me on Gap. I can not explain how it made me feel exactly. It DID relieve the cramps and pain, but it also made me gain weight (no change in diet) I began looking into magnesium supplements for the leg cramps. I went off of Gap and am taking the supplements. I have had no more problems. Everyone's situation is an individual matter. I happen not to do well on prescription drugs.

I've been taking so many additional prescriptions for so long on top of 3600mg of Gabapentin a day that I have no idea what side effects might be from any of one of them. A few months ago I was taking 12 different meds for various problems. As of now, I'm only(?) taking 9 meds for nerve pain, depression, gout prevention, leg swelling, night time pain, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.
The way I see it, I'll be on these until the day I die.

i am 91 years old. I have very bad pains in my legs which keep me up at night so that i cannot sleep. I have back pain also as i have sciatica. I have been taking 200mg of gabapentin. I take it before i go to bed at 10pm - sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't. During the next day i feel groggy off and on. I don't understand if i take the meds at 10pm why should i still feel groggy the next day at 5pm. I am sorry i ever started this med but nothing else seems to work with the pain. 300mg is out of the question, i cannot manage that at all. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have == reaching my limit of patience.

I recently stopped taking nightly 300 mg gabapentin because I was having sudden dizziness. On one hand, a neurologist told me that the dizziness COULDN'T be related to the gabapentin, bc I took it at a higher dosage and had no problem. (Of course, at that time I was on muscle relaxants, tramadol and something else as I recovered from a traumatic fall.) On the other hand, my PCP told me that gabapentin ABSOLUTELY could cause dizziness, and recommended I stop taking it, which I did. Long story short, gabapentin has all kinds of side effects, and it differs from person to person whether they experience them. If you are experiencing grogginess during the day, it is something to talk to your doc about. We seniors have to be aware of all the things that contribute to the possibility of falls. I have been managing pain for about 20 years now, and a dr. recommended that a combination of naproxen sodium and acetaminophen was as effective as opioids without the side effects. I have found that to be true, BUT...both medications at high doses can cause liver and kidney problems. Talk to your doctor about using that combo, if it is right for you.

Gabapentin also gave me dizziness and other issues. I also stopped taking it and feel better.

Something else

@winniemercedes I have been taking Gabapentin for many years and for different reasons: it keeps the brain's hemispheres from "talking" to each other about your pain, and depression; but I kinda like my brain talking to itself and we are still feeling the pain. So I stopped taking it until the next Dr. asks why I stopped, "I don't feel any different than what I felt beforehand" and the wheel rotates again. Gabapentin just doesn't work for me. ARGH

What is your dose?? I take 2400/day was gradually brought to this dosage. If I have midday pain take an extra. Have been okay. Take Tylenol for further pain.

This medication has caused a lot of terrible side effects and I have been reducing my dose for almost a year from taking 450mg daily I'm now down to 275mg and it's been a hellish ride! Withdrawals are far worse than the Opioids I stopped taking. Physical and emotional and mental. Terrible cravings far worse than nicotine. I started them in 2013 for chronic backpain and they do help but my mental health deteriorated badly and never realised that it was this medication. It's been tough even though I taper down just 25mg a time it's very difficult and such a long process. But I am very proud of my progress as I've faced this alone at my own pace. I wouldn't have started this medication if I knew what it would do to me in the long run. It changes you in a bad way. Avoid it if you can it's poison

@brokenlady62
WAS ON GAB FIR A WEEK, MADE ME DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS. STOPPED TAKING..