Gabapentin side effects?

After lower back surgery I developed neuropathy in my feet and ankles especially at night. Gabapentin takes away the pain and cramps. I only need 300 to help. No problems.

No side effects from day one?

Hopefully others will chime in - but assuming the sleep interruptions/feelings of doom is due to grief rather than the meds, my side effects have been minimal. Initially it caused insomnia (a very unusual side effect). My doctor then recommended that I try taking it in the morning instead of at night - but I only did that once because I totally zoned out for hours. I played with timing and having discovered that taking it around 8 PM gives me the best results. I can stay up until about 11:30, then I need to go to bed. When I'm not experiencing the feelings of doom, I sleep like a baby. I think I also experienced a kind of 'tugging' on my shoulders for a couple of hours after taking it every night - but that seems to have disappeared.

Stephen (is it ok to call you that?) Great info - thank you! Sounds like you've been through the mill too. I am constantly amazed at how much pain, stress, trauma people cope with - and for better or worse, keep on trucking. I'm grateful to be part of a community where we can come together to support one another.

Personally, not really. I struggle with fatigue- but I’m on a lot of meds and in combination with all of my medical issues that’s normal. But as far as side effects such as others have mentioned, no- not at all.

Thank you for your perspective. Although I have not been offered or have taken this medication, your input has given me a more balanced picture if I am faced with this discussion with my doctor in the future. Take care😊

Well - I increased my dosage of Gabapentin back up to 300 mg/day (from 200 mg/day) for FOUR days - and have decided to cut back down to 200 mg/day and see my doctor for a change of meds. Last night I experienced a series of dreams that are most unsettling - very dark dreams that I attribute to Gabapentin. This experiment is over 🙁

@iceblue Hi everyone is different about drugs and there system I take 4 at night but lately being nauseated

Ya. I had no meaningful side effects to begin with - but here we are. I am disappointed because I hate the whole trial/error process of finding a medication that works.

I also wanted to comment on the effectiveness of opioids that I saw in another thread. T3's work for me, and I really wish I could find a doctor who would treat my SFN with that. I am very respectful of them and take only as needed. Honestly - I am resentful that I cannot be prescribed a med that I KNOW works and has minimal side effects if not abused, and instead am prescribed meds that 'may cause some patients to be suicidal'. Seriously. How much sense does this make? Rant over.

I completely understand I just drug is a very deep dark experience. We are so desperate for anything that would work to help us with our pain now that they cramp down on opioids. What a shame things have turned out to be in this country for those who really need help.