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Gabapentin side effects?
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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I know everyone is different but for me a was on gabapentine 1600 mg daily not sure if it was doing anything so after 1 1/2 yrs I weened off it, went back on after 1 1/2 months and tried it for another 3 months. FOR ME I FOUND NO DIFFERENCE, I am done with it, if it was not working why be on it. The search continues. Just remember everyone is different
300 mg three times a day helps the nerve pain in my hips
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1 Reaction@watercolor8 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Mayo Clinic Connect is a place to give and receive support.
You feel trapped regarding your medications. You mentioned that you have been diagnosed with dystonia and akathisia. As you know dystonia and akathisia are movement disorders that may be associated with the use of antipsychotic medications.
You may find the depression and anxiety and mental health group helpful. I have linked those groups below.
- Depression & Anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/
- Mental Health https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mental-health/
I'm wondering if you would tell me a bit more about your situation and background so that I can try and connect you with members that may have experience with what you are going through?
Yes, everyone is different. I couldn't live without gabapentin. It scares me to see it so publicly maligned. Politicians love to have a new bandwagon to jump onto so they can tell voters "look at me, I'm saving your child's life from this terrible drug, vote for me". If they restrict gabapentin any more than they already have, it will be even harder for real patients like me and millions of others to get it. Please be careful when you create a topic - try to make it helpful, not a witch-burning/venting drama. I appreciate all the people here who have given me information about their condition and rounded out my knowledge of what I have. People who rant aren't helping. Thank you. Peggy
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4 ReactionsThank you for your opinion. This is the first time I've felt strongly enough to reply. Gabapentin is for if you have a neurological problem. Yes initially it makes you dizzy and makes you zone out. That's why your doctor should slowly increase the dosage. I am on 3600 mg a day for a firefighting injury. I don't know what I'd do without it. Again, if there is something wrong with your nerves, the dizziness wears off. If you aren't giving it a chance, you could be missing what will help you.
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4 ReactionsIt has never made me dizzy. I started with the smallest dose once a day, the pain of neuropathy was alleviated. As the neuropathy progressed and became more painful and broke through, the gaba was increased and I got relief again. Now I'm at 1200 mgs twice a day - still no dizzyness. I understand that it doesn't work so well for some people but please don't say that 'no one should take it' or 'we all have these side affects'. We can all try the least invasive medicines first, yoga, cold packs, tylenol, then ramp up and try others as needed. My doctor and I tried some things that didn't work, so we just went on to the next option. Peggy
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2 ReactionsIt works well for my nerve pain without any side effects whatever.
I take Gabepentin 300MG with 2 at night for NERVE DAMAGE. These are capsules made by on manufacture. Anotherf griup makes pills. At 3600MG, this would be getting into Restless Leg syndrone. The capsule are also for seizures. So I am confused as may well be the doctor. Another group makes this produce for shingles. Many Docs do not know the difference. Did you take capsules or pills. 3600mg a day is really colossal??????
perhaps you have Restless Leg Syndrome? Gabapentin is supposed to help that... ?
Everyone is different in med reactions. I tried it years back for jaw nerve pain and couldn’t tolerate the side effects; couldn’t take it and function as an RN. It didn’t help me either. I ended up having my jaw joints replaced, had severe arthritis and degenerative disease.