It never helped me. I had left side chest pain that was indicative of diabetic neuropathy. GabaPentin was useless for that or any other nerve pain which might have been present. PreGabalin took care of the chest pain and a lot of the infernal overall itching that I put up with. It still causes the ED tho.
I was taking 3200 mg of gabapentin a day for almost 3 years and it impacted my memory severely. I’m trying to wean myself off and for my first time I’m finally flying into the Mayo Clinic to meet with a competent neurosurgeon. Vanderbilt’s operated twice Chattanooga is operated once and all I have is an auxiliary nerve that is compressed in my shoulder and nobody can seem to get it fixed. January 28, 2026. I am praying for a miracle when I get up to Phoenix to see the doctor for the first time from Dayton Tennessee.
@cleveland26 According to my doctor, that's the maximum dosage allowed, and I've been taking it for a few years now. Once it loses what little effectiveness it's having on the pain what am I supposed to do? As far as I know, there's nothing else out there that can offer any kind of relief.
@mrmacabre There is Aventyl, otherwise known as Nortriptyline, but it has side effects too. For me, it made my voice very hoarse and I had to go off of it. It might be another option for you though, if needed.
@mrmacabre There is Aventyl, otherwise known as Nortriptyline, but it has side effects too. For me, it made my voice very hoarse and I had to go off of it. It might be another option for you though, if needed.
I've been taking 3200mg per day of gabapentin and the maximum dose is 3600mg per day for at least 15 years. I just turned 61 (I had seizure in June 2011 that required me to be on a ventilator for 3 days and lost my memory of the beginning of 2011). My point is that I was started gabapentin because it can treat many conditions like seizures,neuropathy, fibromyalgia, pain, and other conditions. They increased my dose to prevent further seizures (which I haven't had another one since) which stumped the doctors- they ran every test possible - but they never could give me definitive answer; they suspected a drug overdose which it was not.
I understand that as we age memories, forgetfulness happen but I was always told that it was a safe drug. I had aphasia, speech,and profound loss of memory that I attributed to the seizure, but over time these symptoms have gotten worse and when I started researching what can cause aphasia, and drugs that can cause increased symptoms above AND DEMENTIA as well as other psychiatric and physical side effects. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't stay on it but make you let your doctor knows all the medications/conditions you have (because other medications mixed with gabapentin can possibly cause problems -I take 13+ different medications and since I've been on gabapentin for such a long time, I want talk to my doctor about it my medications more closely)don't stop taking cold turkey because it can cause some dangerous reactions. This is MY experience and I just chalked up my symptoms to the seizure 15 years ago. I'm not a doctor -I have asthma and my daughter was born with asthma and the medications I was taking was different than her medications. Since I was not comfortable with my 6 week infant's drug regimen and so I went to college and became a respiratory therapist. Doctors treated me differently once I told them I was respiratory therapist; they felt more at ease to discuss her condition.
I'm sorry if I drifted into places that didn't seem to relate to neuropathy and gabapentin but I wanted to tell you or anybody that reads this is to be your own patient advocate - ask questions and make sure the doctor gives you all answers you need to feel educated about medications or conditions.
I have a pain pump but I'm considering a SCS (spinal cord stimulator as well.
@dlexvold Only side effect for me is constant "mental fog" which lifts when I come down on the MG levels. Otherwise, the worst would be withdrawals if I take it too far outside the time frame. Be forewarned. Otherwise, no troubles with this med. Good luck to you!
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Do folks find that gabapentin is actually helping offset their pain?
@blowerk1216
It never helped me. I had left side chest pain that was indicative of diabetic neuropathy. GabaPentin was useless for that or any other nerve pain which might have been present. PreGabalin took care of the chest pain and a lot of the infernal overall itching that I put up with. It still causes the ED tho.
@hand9695
Gabapentin caused too much dizziness!
@mrmacabre There is Aventyl, otherwise known as Nortriptyline, but it has side effects too. For me, it made my voice very hoarse and I had to go off of it. It might be another option for you though, if needed.
@blowerk1216 In my case it just dulls the pain to a reasonable level, but the pain is always there.
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2 Reactions@tessie63 I've been taking Nortriptyline, along with Duloxetine for depression for 10 years.
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1 ReactionI experienced brain fog.
Swelling my legs. Taking 1200 mg per day.
I've been taking 3200mg per day of gabapentin and the maximum dose is 3600mg per day for at least 15 years. I just turned 61 (I had seizure in June 2011 that required me to be on a ventilator for 3 days and lost my memory of the beginning of 2011). My point is that I was started gabapentin because it can treat many conditions like seizures,neuropathy, fibromyalgia, pain, and other conditions. They increased my dose to prevent further seizures (which I haven't had another one since) which stumped the doctors- they ran every test possible - but they never could give me definitive answer; they suspected a drug overdose which it was not.
I understand that as we age memories, forgetfulness happen but I was always told that it was a safe drug. I had aphasia, speech,and profound loss of memory that I attributed to the seizure, but over time these symptoms have gotten worse and when I started researching what can cause aphasia, and drugs that can cause increased symptoms above AND DEMENTIA as well as other psychiatric and physical side effects. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't stay on it but make you let your doctor knows all the medications/conditions you have (because other medications mixed with gabapentin can possibly cause problems -I take 13+ different medications and since I've been on gabapentin for such a long time, I want talk to my doctor about it my medications more closely)don't stop taking cold turkey because it can cause some dangerous reactions. This is MY experience and I just chalked up my symptoms to the seizure 15 years ago. I'm not a doctor -I have asthma and my daughter was born with asthma and the medications I was taking was different than her medications. Since I was not comfortable with my 6 week infant's drug regimen and so I went to college and became a respiratory therapist. Doctors treated me differently once I told them I was respiratory therapist; they felt more at ease to discuss her condition.
I'm sorry if I drifted into places that didn't seem to relate to neuropathy and gabapentin but I wanted to tell you or anybody that reads this is to be your own patient advocate - ask questions and make sure the doctor gives you all answers you need to feel educated about medications or conditions.
I have a pain pump but I'm considering a SCS (spinal cord stimulator as well.
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3 Reactions@rivermaya34
I have been feeling the foggy symptoms lately, and maybe it’s because I have been taking 600 mg per day(?)
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