How long do you take Gabapentin?

Posted by ttibsen @ttibsen, Sep 9, 2020

My wife got a Rx for Gabapentin yesterday to deal with chronic pain affecting her lower right leg below the knee. They couldn’t find anything obviously wrong and I guess that in those situations they fall back on Gabapentin. The instructions simply said take as needed and I am somewhat sceptical of this as it’s my understanding that Gabapentin is not like an analgesic which you do take on an as needed basis. I thought that for Gabapentin, once you start the meds, you continue at least until the meds is finished. She was given a one month supply.

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

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 27, 2022

@ritchie
Did you have a question regarding nystagmus?
Jake

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 27, 2022

If it was me I wouldn’t reduce more than 25% and stay at that percentage at least 2 weeks. Any withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur the lower your dose gets.
Good luck with your taper,
Jake

ritchie | @ritchie | Jan 27, 2022

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@ritchie Did you have a question regarding nystagmus? Jake" + (show)

Sorry, that was a mistake. However, I did look up the meaning of nystagmus.

lindes | @lindes | Jan 27, 2022

That is not what I understand. One needs to ramp up to the daily dose at a certain time of the day (morning , noon , and night, or only one time a day, etc.). It is also important to ramp down when one is done with it. The ramping time for me was 2 weeks each.

Gabapentin is working on the nerves, i. e. pain signals, and it is not a pain curing medication. I think the prescribing physician did not know the conditions for Gabapentin very well. You wife may want o talk to the local pharmacist about this.

axeddie | @axeddie | Jan 28, 2022

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@jetsetter Your pharmacist was right you could’ve done it faster but you probably would’ve suffered worse..." + (show)

@jetsetter I have been on Gabapentin for about a year now, We've gone from 900mg 3xday to 1200mg 3xday over time and then further to 120mg Duloxetine 1xday. I don't want to increase any more of these medications. How long is it safe to take them at this level?

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 28, 2022

@axeddie
As far as gabapentin is concerned my brother has usually taken the maximum dose for many years without any problems. With his other meds it helps him cnsiderably.
I have known people with Epilepsy who have taken it for decades because it controls their focal seizures. When I took it for 2-3 years it didn’t help my neuropathy or my seizures and I also took the maximum dose of 3600 mg without any noticeable side effects although I wouldn’t be surprised if it contributed to my balance and memory problems. yes OK cause some people to be drowsy. If Gabapentin helps ease your pain I wouldn’t hesitate to take it long-term as long as your not having significant side effects.
Take care,
Jake