Gabapentin

@bugsplatterbeast
Gabapentin along with other Anticonvulsant's and other types of medications can cause Neuropathy.
My neuropathy was caused by the anti-convulsant Dilantin and probably Phenobarbital also. I took them about 20-25 years before developing symptoms.
I have read that it takes from months to years for a medication to cause Neuropathy.
Do your doctors believe that it was the gabapentin that caused your nerve issues?
are you currently receiving any type of treatment that relieves your symptoms.
Take care,
Jake

Thank you for answering my question so quickly, my GP sent me for x-rays, blood tests & a ultra scan on my hands. He wouldn't even consider that gabapentin might be involved, in fact he thinks I'm trying a fast one, you know pain meds, benefits. I've made a formal complaint, but it's not helping me with this condition. I like to hike, garden but I can't stay on my feet to long as the shooting pains can be suite extreme. Thanks again for your reply cheers Rob

As I suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet caused by being addicted to Golf for many years, (Crush Neuropathy - Damaged nerves in soles of feet), what you describe are all the symptoms of PN. Anti-convulsants are generally prescribed for relief from the most common nerve pain, being the burning sensation as well as short, sharp pain. I have found that the side effects of anti-convulsants, in my case Pregabalin, are worse than the complaint, so I decided to "grin and bear it", not easy. I do not believe medications cause PN.

Neuropathy is also hereditary. My neurologist said that a fall or trauma can bring on early onset as it was likely I already had the gene. At 38 I fell and within a week my life with neuropathy and gout began. My mother has neuropathy and my father on the other hand had gout (hereditary). What can I say, I come from a family of givers. I also had a splenectomy at 27, due to blood disorder and had a liver transplant last year. Ironically and thankfully my sister has never had any health issues. 😊. I was on Gabapentin for many years (can’t remember side effects, or pain relief weighed greater). After 15 yrs. switched to Pregabalin with no side effects.

I had some neuropathy in my feet, but chemo made it much worse. I am still getting some chemo, but not the Taxol that damaged my feet to the point i had to stop driving. My gabapentin was upped to 900 mg a day. At the advise of the chemo nurse I started taking D3 and K2, plus alpha lipoic acid. My feet are better. They don't feel so dead in bed at night and two days ago I was able to drive a half mile to the mailbox over a mountain road..I never had burning pain, just numbness.

Hello @bugsplatterbeast and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. @jakedduck1 shared some helpful information on his experience with medication that can cause neuropathy.

This article may be helpful as you continue to try to pinpoint if Gabapentin may be involved in your neuropathy onset.

- What are the side effects of gabapentin?:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323753
Reference info: "tingling in the hands and feet - listed as a long term rare side effect that requires medical attention"

I wonder if seeking a second opinion would be helpful in your case?

May I suggest you Google "Peripheral Neuropathy - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic" which will take you to the link that will give you a good basic understanding of PN. I believe there would be more definitive info re treatment etc.if you searched through the topic on the Mayo site.

@billjim651
“I do not believe medications cause PN.“
May I inquire why you don't believe medication induced Neuropathy is possible?
Epilepsy is my Nemesis so most of my experiences are Epilepsy related.
There is too much evidence suggesting medications can cause Neuropathy. Also the severity of a particular disorder which in my case are seizures must be considered. I have been in numerous comes because of Status Epilepticus where the patient is put into an induced coma and I believe those may also have contributed to my neuropathy because of my immobility which my longest one lasted 8 months and cumulatively lasted 3 1/2 years. There have also been studies conducted suggesting comas and neuropathy. Drug toxicity should also be taken into account.
Jake

Apologies for my generalisation comment. When I discussed my PN with my GP, (About 4 years ago), who ordered all the usual blood tests etc., he did mention some detail about Chemo drugs, which did not apply in my case.
Bill

I was put on Gabapentin for a pinched nerve in my pelvic area by the Spine Clinic dr. I took 3 capsules a day, 300 mg. About a year later I started having the burning pain in my feet. Went to several drs & ended up at the Pain Clinic where this dr put me on max dose of 4-4-4, 300 mg ea daily. I decided to try to wean myself down, but can only go to 3-3-2. I still have terrible burning pain. I had measles encephalitis when I was 4 yrs old, had a grand mall seizure & went into a coma for several hours. I was in the hospital for a little over a month, along w/ about 9 other children who had gotten this same thing. Three that I know of died. As a result, I was diagnosed w/ epilepsy & took Dilantin up until I turned 12 yrs old, so took it for 9 yrs. I had EEG’s every year & I stabilized & didn’t have to take it anymore. When I told the Neurologist about this, he said just from the Dilantin I would have lost 15% of my nerve function. At age 40 & every decade thereafter, you lose 10% of your nerve function. I’m 64, so I’d have 45% nerve function. He acted as if this was probably a big factor in why I have SFN. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy! I’m trying to restore my nerves by doing physical therapy w/ a Re-Builder and Infrared Calf & Foot wraps. I can’t use the massager that was also a part of PT, even w/ a pillow on top of it, within a minute my feet feel like they’re getting rug burn. So I have 1 1/2 hrs each morning & each night. It really helps, but then I got my 2nd Covid Vaccination (Moderna) & by afternoon, my feet were on fire. I thought it would be temporary, but it wasn’t. It’s been several months and somehow put me back to square 1. My regular dr said not to get the Booster.