Gabapentin side effects?

Posted by Sundance(RB) @sundance6, Apr 13, 2019

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!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@wsh66

You must not have heard, pain is no longer a problem. It doesn't exist. They don't really have to do anything for you. It's the answer to the opioid crisis. They can't get ahold of the drug addicts and the dealers to deal with them so they're dealing with you. Congratulations you and I and people like us are what it's called low-hanging fruit.

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You are so right

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@ess77

I had very good results with gabapentin, for several years. I never took such high dosages, but did increase the dosage gradually as I needed additional relief, an additional capsule or higher dose gradually. It is a great drug for those who need it and can benefit. It helped me with neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, firbomyalgia pain, leg cramping, other nerve pain, but I began to need to adjust my medications for various side effects. I tapered off, gradually, under doctor's oversight, and now don't use gabapentin any more. It's not what I need to use at this time, maybe my age or whatever. But, my doctor has helped me find the best for me now.It's so important to discuss openly all our concerns and questions with our doctors. I've learned to be open and honest with all my docs. Otherwise, they don't know what's happening, side effects or good effects or fears.....Bless you in your journey

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ess77 ... What Do you take now ? If I ever have to change from gabapentin I would like to know what else is out there ... Thank you. Peggy

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@spondi64

<p>My Dr prescribed Gabapentin 300mg caps last Friday. I took one at bedtime & woke up at 3:30a.m. in horrible pain. Has anyone else experenced anything like this?</p>

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Amitriptyline, blocks nerve pain at low doses. 25 to 50 mgs. Also anti depressant, sleep aid.

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@eternityphysics1

why am I on1800 mg of gabapentjn when it Great INCREASES MY PAIN?. MY DOCTOR HAS IGNORED THE QUESTION? IM SO SICK OF DICTIRS WHO GUVE ME SO MANY DUFFERENT DRGS-6 NOW THAT CAUSE PARADOXICAL REACION OF SEVERE PAIN!!

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Hello @eternityphysics1, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I know it must be difficult when you are in pain and can't get your questions answered. You mentioned being given 6 different drugs and are now on 1800 mg of gabapentin but you are still feeling severe pain. Are you able to share a little more about your diagnosis and any tests you have had?

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@spondi64

<p>My Dr prescribed Gabapentin 300mg caps last Friday. I took one at bedtime & woke up at 3:30a.m. in horrible pain. Has anyone else experenced anything like this?</p>

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why am I on1800 mg of gabapentjn when it Great INCREASES MY PAIN?. MY DOCTOR HAS IGNORED THE QUESTION? IM SO SICK OF DICTIRS WHO GUVE ME SO MANY DUFFERENT DRGS-6 NOW THAT CAUSE PARADOXICAL REACION OF SEVERE PAIN!!

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@spondi64

<p>My Dr prescribed Gabapentin 300mg caps last Friday. I took one at bedtime & woke up at 3:30a.m. in horrible pain. Has anyone else experenced anything like this?</p>

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Hello @eternityphysics1 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand you are frustrated with taking Gabapentin and the side effects you are experiencing.

You will notice that I have moved your post to an existing discussion with members talking and sharing about the side effects and benefits of Gabapentin. Also, since you posted this originally in the Neuropathy group, you will see that @johnbishop has also replied to you with some questions. I will let you start by answering those questions.

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@spondi64

<p>My Dr prescribed Gabapentin 300mg caps last Friday. I took one at bedtime & woke up at 3:30a.m. in horrible pain. Has anyone else experenced anything like this?</p>

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I took gabapentin and Lyrica for neuropathy for a number of years and found them both to be absolutely useless. I have however, gotten a great deal of relief by taking amitriptyline, 25 to 50 mg at 8PM in the evening. Talk to your doctor about amitriptyline.

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@spondi64

<p>My Dr prescribed Gabapentin 300mg caps last Friday. I took one at bedtime & woke up at 3:30a.m. in horrible pain. Has anyone else experenced anything like this?</p>

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Sorry to hear of your horrible pain. I've taken Gabapentin, it helps with the pain. It DOES tend to make me quite drowsy, and I fall asleep sometimes immediately after taking it. When I awaken, I feel woozy and disoriented, but pretty much pain free. My doctor switched me to Lyrica, in hopes of having a painkiller that doesn't make me feel so loopy upon awakening. I've been taking Lyrica for 8-9 days now. It helps with the pain in my feet and toes, due to diabetes, with very little wooziness and disorientation upon awakening. So, in closing, I prefer Lyrica over Gabapentin in fighting the pain in my feet and toes.

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@wsh66

I took gabapentin and Lyrica for neuropathy for a number of years and found them both to be absolutely useless. I have however, gotten a great deal of relief by taking amitriptyline, 25 to 50 mg at 8PM in the evening. Talk to your doctor about amitriptyline.

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Thanks for the heads up on amitryptyline.

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@pfbacon

ess77 ... What Do you take now ? If I ever have to change from gabapentin I would like to know what else is out there ... Thank you. Peggy

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Lyrica helps me more than Gabapentin. I don't feel quite as woozy and disoriented upon awakening.

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