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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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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.
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You are so right
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
Amitriptyline, blocks nerve pain at low doses. 25 to 50 mgs. Also anti depressant, sleep aid.
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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1 Reactionwhy 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!!
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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1 ReactionI 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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1 ReactionSorry 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.
Thanks for the heads up on amitryptyline.
Lyrica helps me more than Gabapentin. I don't feel quite as woozy and disoriented upon awakening.