Neuropathy: Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

@johnspirit2
I took it for Neuropathy but was hopeful since it’s an anticonvulsant that it would help my seizures but at the then recommended maximum dose of 3,600 mg it didn’t help either condition.
Gabapentin is basically a drug that can be increased until you begin having side effects. I knew a man who took 7,000 mg and it helps him as it does my brother who takes 3,600 mg.
Good luck in finding relief,
Jake

Thank you. I'm taking 200mg at bedtime and 100mg morning and noon for trigeminal neuralgia. I had one really bad 10 minutes of terrible pain before taking gaba. Since them the sensitivity around my eye where the pain is located gradually went away. The neurological surgeon I saw said to experiment with the dosage until the pain subsided. What I'm trying to figure out is 1) did the gaba stop the pain and 2) will the gaba prevent another severe event. I am 80 yrs old and the doc said that in older people, the frequency of events increases.

My son takes 900mg a day for peripheral ploy neuropathy and after a half days work falls asleep at the drop of a hat. This with depression drugs . I wonder if anyone has this sleep issue with gaba and/ loss of appetite? He’s 6’4”, 240 and only 50 yrs old but is doing good to consume 500 calories a day

@vicjfaoro1
How often does he take it and at what dose.
Drowsiness is definitely common with seizure medications. There is an extended release version that may help improve any side effects.
You mentioned your son is only consuming 500 calories a day. Why so few? So few calories may be contributing to his fatigue. Even if your son is trying to lose weight he’s certainly not eating a healthy nutritious diet.
Best of luck,
Jake

Hello @johnspirit2. Because there is another active discussion on Gabapentin in the Neuropathy group, you will notice I have moved your post and the replies you've seen so far here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-13/

Did you change anything other than adding in the Gabapentin when the eye pain went away?

No. I changed nothing.

Has anyone experienced heart arrhythmia with gabapentin?

My son has been on gabapentin for 5 months. He is ready to stop taking it due to side effects of vomiting and diarrhea. Any suggestions for an alternative?

@vicjfaoro1 - There is another discussion that talks about Gabapentin vs. Lyrica - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gabapentin-vs-lyrica/

Has your son talked with his doctor to see if there may be alternatives that work better?

He has not but I surely wish he would. He has no appetite and then to lose the bit he eats is not good. Being Mom of adult child is tough. V he’s ready to just quit taking it.