1. < Depression & Anxiety

Gabapentin for pain and anxiety

Posted by jadillow @jadillow, Apr 24, 2019

I have had some health issues and chest and body pains for month. Currently I am on an event monitor as all heart test have came back normal. I used to be on wellbutrin and stopped per new doctor and had no withdrawal thankfully. He talked about prescribing cymbalta/Duloxetine and wants to try it for my random pains which include shoulder, chest, leg and hips at times. Also random bouts of lightheadedness. All on left side and randomly. Sometimes not at all. I am losing sleep because when I lay down and start hurting I fear for the worst. I have sinus bradycardia when resting but they are not concerned with that at this point

Does anyone have and experience with this as medicine as the only medicine I am on now is bp medicine and a calcium blocker. Thanks in advance. .

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

lioness | @lioness | Apr 24, 2019

@jadillow You won't know till you try as you read from# lisalucier she could take it everybody is different Our bodies makeups are different

REPLY
Lyn | @pearlbaby7 | Apr 24, 2019

@jadillow I've been taking 400 mg gabapentin for years. The doctor gave it to me to help me go to sleep and stay asleep. It's effectiveness is directly related to whether I just ate dinner or my stomach is empty. If my stomach is empty I have almost exactly 3 hours before it makes me dizzy and I have to lie down. It doesn't make me constipated which could be because I also have IBSD. It does help with the RA pain as well as the couple times a year I have a shingles outbreak. Try it with an open mind and see how you do. It might be easier to start with taking it before bed. Allow yourself 7-8 hours of sleep before you have to get up. Good luck. I hope it helps you!

REPLY
jadillow | @jadillow | Apr 24, 2019

Thanks. He also told me he believes it will help with my health anxiety as well. I have Brain fog as it is so I’m super hesitant but I’m gonna give it a go as I need some help

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 24, 2019
In reply to @jadillow "Thanks. He also told me he believes it will help with my health anxiety as well...." + (show)
@jadillow

Thanks. He also told me he believes it will help with my health anxiety as well. I have Brain fog as it is so I’m super hesitant but I’m gonna give it a go as I need some help

Jump to this post

@jadillow I agree with Lyn, @pearlbaby7, that it's best taken in the evening when you can "sleep-off" the side effects. Give it some time and realize that it does take a while to adjust to a new med. You might try drinking some extra water during the day as well.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 25, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@Hopefull33250 Are you on a smaller dose of Gabapentin? Dr gave me 100 mg but I'm..." + (show)
@lioness

@Hopefull33250 Are you on a smaller dose of Gabapentin? Dr gave me 100 mg but I'm sensitive to even that but it did help

Jump to this post

@lioness
I'm not taking any Gabapentin currently.

REPLY
jadillow | @jadillow | Apr 25, 2019

I know all medicines are different in folks but I just don’t want the medicine head feeling

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 25, 2019

@jadillow

None of us wants that. I suppose that treating pain is somewhat of a trade-off. You sometimes exchange pain for different problems.

What have you tried regarding exercise/PT? Has water exercise been helpful? What about Tai-Chi or yoga or bio-feedback? These are some non-medical ways to treat pain.

Here is a link to an article from Mayo's website about Integrative Approaches to Treating Pain https://www.mayoclinic.org/integrative-approaches-to-treating-pain/art-20208637

Do any of these ideas seem like a possibility for you?

REPLY
jadillow | @jadillow | Apr 25, 2019

Yes. I have been doing DDP yoga the last two weeks. I am wearing an event monitor so it makes it difficult at times.

REPLY
1 reply
jadillow | @jadillow | Apr 25, 2019

My pain isn’t constant and comes in flashes but frustrating nonetheless

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.