Gabapentin use for neuropathy

I’ve used Gabapenten for 15 years. I take 300 in the morn & afternoon & 400 at night. The night dose is the only one I’ve had to increase. I also take methadone 10 mg a day. I use lidocaine patches also. It doesn’t stop the pain but most of the time makes it bearable. I have non medical tricks I try. I wouldn’t be afraid to take gabapenten but you have to do it regularly as with all meds for pain so you have it working all the time. Your quality of life is important. I hope you find what works for you

Thank you so much.

John the reason l asked that question is because our state is number1 in opiot distribution and deaths.

Hi Lisa, last year before I got my diagnosis for small fiber PN and I just had numb feet with no pain my doctor prescribed gabapentin and I took it for about a month with no results - didn't help with the numbness at all. I met with the doctor again and she had a consult with another doctor who I again explained my symptoms - numbness, no pain. He said well gabapentin won't work for that...it only addresses pain, not numbness. So I just stopped taking it. I have read discussions between other members in one of the closed groups I belong to that were taking gabapentin and it was difficult to get off of it. By tapering slowly they were able to get off of the gabapentin. Gabapentin was made to treat seizures and not PN. IMHO it just tricks the brain into not feeling the pain and it can require a higher and higher dosage the longer you are on it to keep the pain at bay.

You are right about the opiods. I really feel for those folks that suffer from chronic pain and really need something to get back their quality of life.

Hope you have a pain free day! John

John how did you wean yourself off the gabapentin because even though l am taking it l still am having numbness. So far l have gotten off of 4 medicine and my mind is so much clearer. I am remembering so much more since l was given all these meds in 2014. So l will be going to the Mayo clinic in 10 days and maybe they will take me off so more or tell me which ones l should tell my doctors which is affecting my health.

I didn’t have any pain in my feet and legs just the numbness so basically the gabapentin wasn’t doing anything for me. That and I don’t think I was on it long enough to have it mess with my mind. The gabapentin only helps with the pain. Do you have pain associated with your PN?

I do sometimes bit more numbness. I think l can tolerate the pain just as long as l can get off of it because it really isn't helping. So it's really defeating it's purpose. So that's why he gave me tramadol also.And the tramadol can be addictive. That's the only pain med l can take so l don't want to take that and l can't take any NASID. I am trying to slowly decrease the meds but when l tell the doctors what meds l stopped taking they get a little frustrated with me because they can't keep up when l tell them which one l am not taking.

I have been taking Gabapentin for 8 years for a pinched nerve in my spine. Now I have Mono Neuritis Multiplex and i take 800mg four x a day. Gabapentin is the only thing that helps the pain but it will do nothing for the numbness. Even Lyrica can't do that. I also take 9mg time release dilaudid 2 x a day and 2 mg dilaudid 2 to 4 times a day depending on pain. I usually take 2 but I have had bad days that have required extra. I was told when I started the gabapentin and opioids that I would be on them forever, so no point in worring about addiction. I am only able to be at home because I have a caregiver without him I would be in long term care as at this point I can manage my personal care but can't even open the fridge let alone any packaging that may be in there.

Hi Lisa, I would talk to your doctor. If the side effects of the gabapentin are making it difficult for you to function and you can think more clearly without it. Then if you can manage the pain without gabapentin, I would get off of it. I would talk to your doctor to make sure he knows how you feel about the gabapentin and that it’s not helping you. It’s really your decision, not his. He’s there to help you not the other way around.

Thank John will do.