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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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Feb 23 11:01am

In reply to @bajjerfan "@heisenberg34 If it doesn't help then don't take it." + (show)

@bajjerfan I guess as I taper off it, I will know if it helps or not. I would like to get off it if it is not helping. From what I have read, it is not recommended to stop cold turkey.

Jake | @jakedduck1 | Feb 23 11:22am

@leehop71
Your gabapentin symptoms should go away or at least decrease in severity.
I took them together along with other seizure meds with no problems but your wise to ask your doctor first.
My mom had a pain in her thigh and her doctor told her to take 1000 mg of turmeric, but it didn't help at all and he told her to double it and then her pain went completely away.
Hoping it works as well for you,
Jake

Jake | @jakedduck1 | Feb 23 12:04pm

Your right @heisenberg34 about stopping seizure meds cold turkey.
People who have epilepsy, especially shouldn't stop those meds called turkey. I've been on seizure medicines for 60 years and when I was young, I did stop them cold Turkey and ended up with what's known as status of elliptica. It's a seizure that does not stop on its own. I was in a coma for eight months. But I was quite a bit more medicine I'm sure than you're taking. But I don't think it's worth taking a chance.
There's a lady on the forum who is taking an antidepressant for many years and she stopped, called Turkey and ended up having a stroke. Just goes to show what a dangerous practice stopping medicines called turkey can be.
Take care,
Jake

leehop71 | @leehop71 | Feb 23 12:40pm

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@leehop71 Your gabapentin symptoms should go away or at least decrease in severity. I took them..." + (show)

@jakedduck1
Thanks Jake. Since I’m 99% there, I’m going to give it one more week.

If I don’t get to 100, then I’ll run it by my doctor.

leehop71 | @leehop71 | Feb 24 7:07am

One thing I’ve learned, side effects for gabapentin are different for everyone, except for maybe the loopiness and tiredness which improves over time!

I’m 72 and quality of life is crucial for me. The only relief I got FROM the pain was sitting or lying down. Not the kind of quality of life I care for!🥴

chatnoirkc | @chatnoirkc | Feb 24 9:10pm

In reply to @catheem "@1kay2 I, too, only took Gabapentin for a very short time (right after total knee replacement)..." + (show)

@catheem I too had extremely blurred vision and it had no effect on my pain. You mentioned your pain was after knee replacement. A pain specialist told me approximately 25% of patients have pain after surgery. Both my knees are arthritic & very painful and I refuse to have a replacements. I had lumbar fusion & laminectomy in 7/2004 and still have occasional back pain. Unless it is knee replacement or no walking, I'm not doing it.

leehop71 | @leehop71 | Feb 25 6:56am

Gabapentin does NOT work (take effect) right away. It has to get into your system!

It can take 2-4 weeks before a person starts feeling the effects!

leehop71 | @leehop71 | Feb 25 9:24am

I’ve been on my gabapentin for a month and I’m at 99% effectiveness!

I’m going to give it another 10 days praying to get to 100%.

IF, in the event I don’t, I’m going to ask my doctor if I can add turmeric 500mg once a day!🤷🏼

bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | Feb 25 12:01pm

In reply to @chatnoirkc "@catheem I too had extremely blurred vision and it had no effect on my pain. You..." + (show)

@chatnoirkc

Is your back pain the same kind as before surgery or is it different? It's possible that your pain is from more than one issue.

Jake | @jakedduck1 | Feb 25 12:48pm

@leehop71
I hope the Gabapentin resolves your pain. I read that turmeric may help neuropathy and can help numbness. I never tried it but my mom used it to relieve thigh pain. Doctor put her on 2,000 mg a day. I may buy some although I don't have much faith it will help numbness.
Good luck,
Jake