Gabapentin temporary increase?

Posted by stevenlo @stevenlo, Mar 20 7:29am

I am wondering if anyone in the group has had any luck with temporarily increasing doses of Gabapentin for nerve pain flare ups? I have been doing fairly well with 1300mg/day (divided 3x/day). Then about a week ago, the pain started coming back. I have been managing it with Advil.. but dont want to keep taking that for obvious reasons. One of my doctors (not a Mayo doc) has told me to increase "as needed" then return back to baseline dosage. My Mayo doc has told me that Gabapentin is not used in that manner.. I have been reading posts on this site that suggest taking increased dosages for flare ups is effective. (I'm a little confused). Can anyone share any experience with treating nerve pain flare ups? Thanks!

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Profile picture for stevenlo @stevenlo

@heisenberg34 Sorry to hear about the side effects. I hope things settle down. may I ask how many years you took Gabapentin? .. and what is the condition that causes your pain (Nerve damage, nerve entrapment, something else?.. if I might ask?!)

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@stevenlo Been on Gabapentin for almost nine years. I fell while skiing in 2016. Landed very hard on my lower back and buttocks. My neurologist spent an hour and a half with me in 2017. She prescribed those drugs… which helped me tremendously. I think she did an EMG among other things. I don’t recall if nerve damage was discussed but I am sure there was(and continues to this day.

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Profile picture for heisenberg34 @heisenberg34

@stevenlo Been on Gabapentin for almost nine years. I fell while skiing in 2016. Landed very hard on my lower back and buttocks. My neurologist spent an hour and a half with me in 2017. She prescribed those drugs… which helped me tremendously. I think she did an EMG among other things. I don’t recall if nerve damage was discussed but I am sure there was(and continues to this day.

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@heisenberg34 Oh boy!!!. terrible!! Sorry to hear this. Unbelievable how fragile we really are. (although it sounds like you took a real tumble)!

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Profile picture for stevenlo @stevenlo

@mrmacabre .. and does it seem to provide the same level of relief even over time?.. or do you feel it is less effective as time goes on? I am just trying to figure out if the relief I have been getting is something from the gabapentin is something that will last.. (hopefully)

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@stevenlo I've also been taking ALA, alpha lipoic acid after my doctor recommended adding it to my list of OTC supplements. It seems to have taken the edge off of the pain, and I haven't had a really bad night time flareup since I started taking it.

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Profile picture for mrmacabre @mrmacabre

@stevenlo I've also been taking ALA, alpha lipoic acid after my doctor recommended adding it to my list of OTC supplements. It seems to have taken the edge off of the pain, and I haven't had a really bad night time flareup since I started taking it.

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@mrmacabre thank you!!! .. I'll look into this.. I assume you can buy it at any pharmacy? I appreciate the information! How much do you take?

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ALA sounds like a wonder drug. Thank you.

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Profile picture for johnnysneakers @johnnysneakers

ALA sounds like a wonder drug. Thank you.

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@johnnysneakers hoping for anything that will help!

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Profile picture for stevenlo @stevenlo

@mrmacabre thank you!!! .. I'll look into this.. I assume you can buy it at any pharmacy? I appreciate the information! How much do you take?

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@stevenlo We get it from Amazon, and I take 1200mg, 2 600mg tablets a day.

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Profile picture for mrmacabre @mrmacabre

@stevenlo We get it from Amazon, and I take 1200mg, 2 600mg tablets a day.

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@mrmacabre Thanks.. I ordered it yesterday as soon as you told me about it.. just received it today.. already took 1200mg!.. I also did some research on the best reviews for ALA and found that Stonehenge has the best.. also recommended for its composition (already ordered that too). I will finish the Amazon order then start on the Stonehenge ordered ALA. As you know, I'll try ANYTHING to help control this pain... Thank you again for the recommendation! .... hoping I will get some relief by taking it too.

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Profile picture for heisenberg34 @heisenberg34

@stevenlo Been on Gabapentin for almost nine years. I fell while skiing in 2016. Landed very hard on my lower back and buttocks. My neurologist spent an hour and a half with me in 2017. She prescribed those drugs… which helped me tremendously. I think she did an EMG among other things. I don’t recall if nerve damage was discussed but I am sure there was(and continues to this day.

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I’ve been on 1200mg Gabapentin for 6 years. I hurt my back, neck, buttocks both shoulders in a car accident. I had 4 surgeries in 10 month's. The pain in my buttocks is extremely painful. I have even tried to slowly decrease my Gabapentin but the pain is too intense. My pain dr. gave me a prescription for Topiramate look it up it helps with nerve pain. I have help to sleep at night by taking Anatripline because my nerves come alive at night. Did your dr. tell you anything about why you were having pain in your buttocks?
What did you injure? Was it your SI joint?

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